Pino: Want to help Spain win the World Cup; Walton is good enough to play for Spain

This summer Pino left Villarreal to join Crystal Palace for a transfer fee of 30 million euros. Pino has yet to score for Crystal Palace, but he opened the scoring in Spain's 2-0 victory over Georgia. In an interview with The Athletic, Pino discussed adjusting to London, the Premier League, Glasner and more.

On adapting to London

"London is pretty good and I'm adapting. Villarreal is my home and I miss it. But I decided to take this adventure and I'm very motivated. I already have a house and a car. But the traffic in London was really bad, not like Villarreal at all, but I adapted well

“The two Colombians (Munoz, Lerma) were helping me, as well as Walter Benitez (Argentina goalkeeper). Matetta also always supports me with his special qualities, and although he doesn’t speak much Spanish, he tries to communicate with me in Spanish as much as possible. Some of the club staff would recommend nice places to live, so I adapted well. "

There are many Spanish internationals playing for London teams, including Chelsea's Cucurella, Tottenham's Polo and the Arsenal trio: Raya, Merino and Sovemendi.

"Yes, I talked a lot with them when I first arrived. We lived very close to each other and would go out to eat together. I have yet to find a favorite Spanish restaurant though. I've been busy trying to adapt to life here, and then I'll try to learn more about the city. "

Compared with La Liga, the Premier League has a faster pace and more intense confrontations, which is a challenge for Pino, who is only 1.72 meters tall. But in the past, many short Spanish midfielders have achieved success in England.

"I enjoy the Premier League games. The football here is crazier than in Spain, but that is not a problem. With technical ability you can adapt to the pace of the game in England. Some Spanish players who are not in excellent physical condition have become top players with their skills. For example, my idol Cazorla (played 334 games for Villarreal), and David Silva, who is also from the Canary Islands, I always keep them in mind. "

Crystal Palace coach Glass played a key role in Pino's transfer process.

"From the first call until today, he has always believed in me. He said he wanted me to play the same role at Crystal Palace as I did at Villarreal. My former coaches Marcelino and Emery also emphasized the importance of possession. When the ball is lost, high-intensity pressing is required to regain it. This fits perfectly with the way I play.

"Glasner allowed me to play freely and play with confidence. He also pointed out the areas where I needed to improve, and although there was still a lot, he thought I had a lot of potential."

Pino made his Crystal Palace debut as a substitute against Emery's Villa and helped the team win 3-0.

"Emery gave me the opportunity to make my debut and I will always be grateful for everything he taught me. It is because of him that I can become the player I am today. We shook hands but didn't have much time to communicate, everything is very rushed here."

Among the Crystal Palace teammates, Gueye, Ismaila Sarr, Mitchell and Adam Walton all left a deep impression on Pino.

"Adam is capable of everything. When defending, he is a fighter, very tough and wins a lot of the ball. He also has skills with his feet. You can enjoy it just by watching him play. There is no doubt that he has the ability to play for the Spanish team."

Pino made his debut for the Spanish team when he was only 18 years old. So far, he has played 16 games for the national team and scored 4 goals. Pino missed the 2024 European Cup due to a serious knee injury. As soon as Pino returned to fitness, De La Fuente recalled him.

"I am very grateful for this, and the coach also knows it. The national team players called me during the European Cup and during the celebrations, and the coach also called me. Although I was far away, they made me feel very close, and I am very grateful."

During the European Cup, the main double wingers of the Spanish team were Yamal and Nico, but they missed the current international match day due to injuries.

"Even if I don't play, I will help the team. When I have the opportunity, I will do my best to help Spain win. This is not a personal matter, I hope we can go as far as possible in the World Cup and try to win this important trophy.

"Spain is seen as one of the title contenders from the outside, and we have to prove on the field that we can do this. "

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