Fernandez's Inspiration & Adaptation To The WSL

Martina Fernandez has been immense for Everton since joining on-loan from Barcelona in January.

An aggressive yet assured centre-back, the Spain Under-23 international has been a constant in Brian Sorensen's side – playing every game since arriving on Merseyside.

Ahead of International Women's Day, the defender discussed her inspiration and how her fellow teammates have helped her settle in at Everton.

Fernandez told evertonfc.com: "The women around me at Everton are very, very strong. There are girls who are leaders within the Club and all the girls in the team are brave, with a strong character and a lot of courage. When they work as a team they are unstoppable, which has helped me a lot to adapt."

Operating across the Toffees' backline, the 20-year-old has formed a solid centre-back partnership with fellow January signing, Maren Mjelde.

Fernandez's youth mixed with Mjelde's experience at the top level saw the pair help Sorensen's side to their latest victory, keeping a clean sheet as the Blues departed Villa Park with three points courtesy of a 2-0 win.

The veteran is almost a role model for Fernandez, who stressed the importance of having people to look up to.

"It is important as they can help young girls to pursue their dreams because if they see a successful person, they can visualise that they too can achieve it," she added.

The Ordis-born defender picked out her mother as her inspiration and said: "Since I was little she has always guided me and taught me a lot. I have learnt a lot from her in all areas. My mother works in a sector with many men and when I started playing football with boys, I would see my mother and think that if she is the queen of the boys, I can be too.

"She has also guided me in my studies. She is a very intelligent and astute person. In short, if I grow up to be 25% like her, I will be very proud of myself.

"My mother is my main inspiration and the reason why I do things, she is very important to me. She always gives everything for me to be well."

The signing of the highly-rated Fernandez got fans excited, as a signing from the Champions League winners naturally would.

It was her mother who attended her first day as a Toffee alongside her, the pair entering the Club's training ground to complete the formalities and meet head coach Sorensen.

Reflecting back on this, she said: "Her coming with me was a pleasure for me because it was a big step for my career. It was an important moment and it was very special to be able to do it with her and to feel her support."

The Blues are back in action on Friday 14 March (7pm) as Arsenal make the trip to Walton Hall Park.

Tickets for the clash can be purchased here.