Lucy Bronze reveals Barcelona move has given her a 'new lease of life'

Lucy Bronze has revealed that playing for Barcelona has given her a 'new lease of life' following her summer move to the Catalan club.

Bronze joined Barcelona from Manchester City, bringing an end to her second spell with the WSL club, and has featured in two of her new side's opening three league matches as the Spanish champions have begun the defence of their title with a 100% record.

Barcelona have won three from three despite contending with a swathe of injury problems - including the long term absence of captain Alexia Putellas.

"Loving it, I think it’s like a new lease of life again," said Bronze.

"The language is a little bit of a struggle but the girls are really good, they really try and help both myself and Keira [Walsh] - particularly with the language and with the way they play.

"We’ve had a reasonably good start to the season, we’ve still got a couple of injuries so it’s quite exciting that we still haven’t got our strongest team and some of the best players.

"Alexia is obviously not there, but other players have been missing and we’re still performing really well. I feel like I’m settling in well on the pitch and off the pitch. I’m missing the weather already!"

Bronze has played for WSL heavyweights Manchester City and won three Champions League titles with Lyon, but believes Barcelona has provided her with the highest demand of her career because so many of her new teammates have been brought up playing the technical Barca way.

"I think it’s the highest demand I’ve ever had to play for a team because all the players are so intelligent, that’s what they’ve lived and breathed their entire life," the right-back added.

"I’ve played in Lyon but a lot of it was made up of international players whereas the core of Barcelona is the best Spanish players, the Spanish way, the Barca way. It’s taken a little bit of adapting to for both myself and Keira, the speed of play is a lot quicker, the thought process is a lot quicker.

"You’ve almost got to earn their trust a little bit to prove that you’re up to their standard to be able to play the Barca way or they might not pass to you. The girls are really good and they’ve been really patient with the language and the change of style.

"Both myself and Keira feel like our games are improving from being there and the intensity they play and the style they play is only going to help us and hopefully we can add something to the team as well."