.“The food, the hotel, the people, hearing Spanish spoken everywhere… I love it. It would be incredible to win here with my people surrounding me, it would be a dream.”.

.“Suzann Pettersen knows who her partners will be on Friday, and she’s told us, but that information can’t leave the team room. Here’s a hint: ‘I think I’m going to play with a Swedish player.’‘.

Radiant, brimming with energy, and sporting a broad smile, Carlota Ciganda appeared at the Finca Cortesín Media Centre to share her initial thoughts ahead of the 2023 Solheim Cup, the first ever held on Spanish soil. She's in high spirits, but not boastful; smiling, yet wary of the American team's strength; and above all, confident of receiving overwhelming support from the Spanish and European crowds: "I want to see the stands at the first hole packed, roaring, making a lot of noise.".

The two hundred or so fans who watched her practice rounds made a lot of noise, but she wants more—the kind of noise needed to beat an American team that, despite having five debutantes, “is very similar to the European team. Both teams are very skilled; they're quite alike. They're players who rarely make mistakes. Of their five debutantes, two have won Grand Slams, and if you win Grand Slams, you're ready to play in a Solheim Cup. Today's rookies aren't like they were ten years ago, that's why they're winning so quickly. They're debutantes, but you can tell they've worked with the best coaches and technology,‘ she explains.

Her feelings heading into Friday are good, very good. She's in the competition she loves most and in the place she wanted to be. “I'm so happy to be here. It's wonderful to play in our country. The food, the hotel, the people, hearing Spanish spoken everywhere… I love it. It would be incredible to win here with my people and my family around me; it would be a dream.”,

He pointed this out to a hundred media outlets at the Media Centre.

Taking advantage of this first appearance before the media, Carlota wanted to thank Deporte & Business, Marta Figueras-Dotti, President of the Ladies European Tour, and all the other people involved in organizing the tournament, for the work that goes into a Solheim Cup. “Until you get here, you don't realize everything that goes into setting up all these tents, attending to everyone,…”

“I know who I’m going to play with, but that information doesn’t leave the team room.‘

The golfer from Navarre, who arrived in the press room perfectly equipped in her team's colors - a turquoise polo shirt, and white pants and cap with the Solheim Cup logo - revealed that captain Suzann Pettersen "has a very clear idea" of Friday's pairings, but did not want to make them public.

“She asked us how many matches we want to play and who we want to play with. What she wants is for us to feel comfortable. The captain is clear about it, and she's told us so, but she can't leave the team room,‘ she said. However, she did drop a hint: ’I think I'm going to play with a Swedish player.”.

This will be Carlota Ciganda's sixth Solheim Cup, making her the most experienced European player outside of Anna Nordqvist, who has one more appearance. She recalls, “In 2013, I'd been on the Tour for a couple of years and was a rookie. I had that drive and that boundless energy. I did whatever needed to be done. Now I have more experience; as a golfer, I've learned, you learn every week. There's never enough improvement. I think the difference is that I have more experience and I'm calmer on the course, I have better control of my emotions,‘ she says, adding a factor that could be important during the competition: ’These are emotional weeks, and that can help you if you're playing against a debutante.”.

Ulzama also emphasized the need for the European team to temper their euphoria, explaining that even though they are "the strongest team Europe has ever had," they have to prove it on the course. "The team is very good, as the rankings show, but to win, each player has to do their part. We're all focused and know what we need to do to be ready for Friday. We're eager, but we know the Americans are excellent; we know them very well from the LPGA. It's going to be very close; many matches will be neck and neck going into the final holes," she said.

However, Carlota doesn't deny that the fact that the greens at Finca Cortesín are "somewhat slower than those played in the United States" could benefit the home team. "In any case, the course is good for both teams," she concluded.

“I hope the girls from the Ping Junior Solheim Cup will pass on their energy to us.”

The golfer from Navarre, a regular follower of the National Teams' results, as evidenced by her social media, expressed her satisfaction with the European victory in the Ping Junior Solheim Cup, a title that could boost Europe's performance at Finca Cortesín. "I followed the tournament because there were four Spanish players. I saw that they won easily, I'm very happy for them, and I hope the girls will pass on their energy to the older players," she said.

Carlota Ciganda wanted to close her press conference with the cry she hopes to hear in every corner of Finca Cortesín from this Friday onwards: “Let’s go, girls!”