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From Emma Sanders
BBC Sport
When England ahead Toni Duggan faces former club Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday, it is going to bring back memories of some time.
Duggan, 28, swapped Barcelona to Atletico Madrid this summer after spending four years at City, and will return in the first leg of their last-16 tie to the Academy Stadium.
She won four important titles and was part of the England squads that finished third and fourth Womens World Cups respectively.
In a wide-ranging interview with BBC Sport, Duggan talks about Spanish culture, friendship with prior Tottenham guardian Trippier along with also thehumiliation of last seasons Champions League final defeat.
If she left Barcelona in the summertime, liverpool-born Duggan moved to Spain two years back but might have returned to England.
Manchester United were reportedly an alternative but following acrazy move window she chose Spanish champions Atletico.
This was a little up in the air. There were opportunities in different countries but Atletico have been the club at the ideal moment. Their style of play suits me down to the floor, Duggan told BBC Sport.
Ive only missed one year competing in the Champions League – that was my first year at Manchester City and it had been difficult. My choices were rather limited when you consider up that.
Duggan admits she misses home a lot and it could behard being apart from family.
I felt this way at Barcelona and that I believe I miss it even more now, she said. Football is a short career so you need to take the opportunities in the future.
Family come to help me but its not exactly the same as sitting in the living room with my brothers and my mum, all winding up each other and doing things you do not have to perform.
But family isnt the only thing Duggan misses.
I dont half miss out a roast! I found a place and every Sunday I attempted to go down there. I want to find one in Madrid.
One of Duggans biggest challenges was studying the language and also after admitting shecould not unwind at Barcelona her Spanish hasquite enhanced at Madrid.
In Barcelona they complicate it by speaking Catalan too. There were instances when you believed you had been doing very well then somebody spoke in Catalan and you couldnt understand a phrase and were somewhat confused, said Duggan.
I would not be too confident doing a full meeting in Spanish but I can surely get by.
Duggan says Spains training styles areanother level to exactly what she had been used to in England.
A lot of it was using the ball at Barcelona and it is very similar in Madrid, she explained. All of the women are technical – more than in England. They put a significant emphasis.
Physically, I dont think the Spanish league is rather at the degree of England but its been quite interesting seeing the skills they do.
Even the gap between Atletico and Barcelona – their designs are so different
The girls game ison the up at Spain says Duggan, who shopped for former club Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Atletico facing 60,739 fans in the Wanda Metropolitano last season – a list for a top-flight national womens game in Europe.
Former Tottenham defender Trippier combined Duggan at Atletico Madrid this summer, signing up a three-year deal.
The pair traded messages before grabbing in a joint training session this month.
Ive spoken to him quite a bit, said Duggan. We had been in precisely exactly the same complicated for the first few months but I kept him.
Id see Diego Costa along with another players but not seemed to grab Kieran.
We had a coaching session two weeks ago and I managed to catch him up then.
His loved ones are here and hes taking Spanish lessons – he is really trying hard in that regard. He said the manager speaks so quickly, he would like to attempt to pick it up more.
Hes really satisfied with the conclusion that hes made. It is nice that I have that assistance from him today and obviously, I give him also.
More English players are going to Europe and Duggan says its because players like Englands Lucy Bronze and Izzy Christiansen – that combined Champions League winners Lyon at 2018 and 2017 respectively have done.
I think its really good for your English game for people to go away and examine themselves. It does challenge you and enhance you as a person. That will help England as a national group.
People are not as worried as they were in the past. It is the exact same in the mens match because Jadon [Sancho] is performing really well at Borussia Dortmund and Trippier here at Atletico.
Duggan began a years final and moved seeking a Champions League name.
But Barcelonas 4-1 defeat by Lyon left herdevastated andembarrassed.
England were on duty before the World Cup and that I knew each of the staff were sitting there watching on a large screen, she says.
I could not get that out of my mind – the night following the match it was all that I could think about.
Once I turned up to the England camp later, people were sayingwell done for getting that much. But it felt like that was not great. You go to finals to acquire it.
A quarter-final place is up for grabs from City and if asked if playing against her England team-mates adds validity, Duggan said:Yes – I wish to win.
I am convinced City will want some payback [for past seasons defeat by Atletico]. While they are currently talking about being at the next round of the Champions League, I dont wish to turn until the next global break and I am not.
I need to win this battle. I would like to win every match but I need to win more so against City or any other ex-club.
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