Gilardoni method keeps Paula and Bea on top

Behind the strong results of Paula Josemaría and Bea González stands the consistent work of Claudio Gilardoni. The Argentine coach does not respond to the pair’s recent successes with euphoria, but with a clear brief: the biggest mistake would be to mistake progress for completion. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Gilardoni outlines his philosophy, discusses the rivalry with Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea, and analyzes the evolution of women’s padel at the highest level.

A solid environment as the foundation of performance

Since the start of their collaboration, Gilardoni has particularly highlighted the quality of Bea González’s entourage. In his view, the Spaniard’s progress cannot be explained by talent alone. What matters is the daily structure around training, recovery, and mental stability. The coach explicitly names the work of coach Juanjo, physiotherapist Óscar, and the role of father Toni as key pillars.

“Bea is an extraordinary person and she is surrounded by a team that works remarkably well,” Gilardoni stresses. For him, this assessment is more than politeness. It describes a model in which individual ability and team structure are tightly linked. Without a reliable environment, even small technical or tactical adjustments are hard to implement sustainably.

Gilardoni does not see his role as a complete redesign of a player already established among the best. Instead, the task is to make targeted fine-tuning. “Our mission is to add small details. You must not give them too much information; they already know very well how to play padel.” That restraint is deliberate: too many impulses in a peak phase of the season can disrupt rhythm and create uncertainty.

The ranking follows the work, not the other way around

Many observers already see Bea González as a future world number one. Gilardoni deliberately cools such expectations. Constant focus on the top ranking can distract players from their real mission. For him, the quality of daily processes comes first, not public pressure around the ranking.

“Today we are number two. You first have to be able to stay in that place if you hope one day to reach first,” the Argentine explains. The message is clear: stability in second place is not a given, but a sporting challenge in its own right. Anyone who underestimates that status risks setbacks before an attack on number one becomes realistic.

Despite a strong season from Josemaría and González, Gilardoni still sees significant room for growth. “They are showing a very good level, but we must keep working. The day you think you have made it is often the day you start losing without understanding why.” That risk, he says, is the central danger for teams that get used to success and neglect detail work.

Core guidelines of the Gilardoni method

• Small technical and tactical adjustments instead of major overhauls
• Focus on process quality rather than permanent ranking fixation
• Close coordination with the existing player environment
• Continuous development even in phases of strong results
• Realistic goal-setting: stability first, then the push for number one

Triay and Brea as a permanent benchmark

For Gilardoni, the pair of Gemma Triay and Delfi Brea remains the current reference on the circuit. He especially highlights their adaptability. Whether indoors or outdoors, on a fast or slow court, the pair makes matches extremely difficult. That consistency is what makes them the benchmark for every ambitious chasing pair.

“They make every match extremely difficult, whether indoors, outdoors, on a fast or slow court,” Gilardoni says. From this he draws no fatalism, but a clear working brief: Josemaría and González must keep refining details to stay level with the best over time. Progress in this context means not only occasional wins, but reliable answers to changing match conditions.

The rivalry between the two pairs currently shapes women’s padel at tour level. To compete with Triay and Brea, teams need not only shot quality but also mental clarity and tactical flexibility. Gilardoni therefore follows a development logic that recognizes success without treating it as a finished state. Competition stays open as long as both sides are willing to reset their own standards.

What the philosophy means for women’s padel

Gilardoni’s comments strike a nerve beyond one single pair. In modern padel, what often decides is no longer only the spectacular highlight, but the ability to perform consistently under changing conditions. Coaching work therefore shifts from major system changes toward precise interventions. Less information, more relevance: that stance explains why Gilardoni communicates in a deliberately measured way.

For Paula Josemaría and Bea González, this creates a framework that links performance with humility. The current number-two position is treated as a responsibility, not as a temporary stop with automatic progress. At the same time, the demand remains high because rivalry with Triay and Brea allows no rest phase. Anyone who believes the work is done loses touch with the dynamics of the tour.

The Gilardoni method can therefore be read as a leadership principle on court: a stable environment, clear priorities, small improvements, and lasting vigilance. That combination is meant to keep Josemaría and González successful not only in the short term, but anchored for the long run in the elite group of women’s padel. The path upward remains open, but only through consistent work on the details that decide matches under pressure.