Pinault: My Spanish seniors in the Premier League helped me adapt; Glasner convinced me to come to Crystal Palace

Hupu reported on October 14th that Spanish youth international Jeremiah Pina accepted an exclusive interview with TheAthleticUK.

Speaking at a Spanish training camp in Las Rozas near Madrid, Pino said fellow Spanish players Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma were helping him adapt. French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta is also trying to help.

"The Colombians (Munoz and Lerma) are helping me, as is (Argentine goalkeeper) Walter Benitez," Pino said. "And Mateta, he always had a great personality. He didn't speak much Spanish, but he would try to speak to me. There were staff at the club who would recommend suitable accommodation. So I adapted well."

Pino has also received support from his Spanish team-mates who live in London - Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, Tottenham Hotspur's Pedro Polo, and the Arsenal trio of David Raya, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi.

"When I first arrived in London, I talked a lot with them. We lived very close to each other and went out to eat together. But I haven't found my favorite Spanish restaurant yet. I have been very busy recently and just want to adapt and then get to know the city more deeply."

Pino admitted that the Premier League has a faster pace and more intense physical confrontations than La Liga. He also realized what a big challenge it is for him who is 172 centimeters tall. He also knows that many diminutive Spanish midfielders have thrived in England, including two of his idols growing up - Arsenal's Santi Cazorla and Manchester City's David Silva.

"I enjoy the Premier League, it's a little crazier than Spanish football, but that's no problem. With technical ability, you can definitely adapt to the pace of the game in England.

Even if the Spanish players are not the strongest athletes physically, I believe we have always been one of the strongest players in the world with the ball.

I know Cazorla (he Playing for Villarreal (334 appearances in three seasons), Cazorla is my idol. The same goes for David Silva, who is from the Canary Islands like me and I will always remember their heroics."

Glasner played a key role in convincing Pino (who will turn 23 on October 20) to leave Villarreal.

"From our first phone call until today, he has always believed in me and told me that he wanted me to play the same role as I did at Villarreal.

My former coaches (at Villarreal) Marcelino and Emery also wanted the team to have possession of the ball. But when we lost possession, we pressed very hard to get the ball back. That suited me very well.

He (Glasner) told me to stay free and confident and play the way I know how to play. He told me that there was a lot of room for improvement and that my potential was huge."

Pino made his debut as a substitute in Crystal Palace's 3-0 victory over Emery's Aston Villa and got to know one of his former managers. In early September, Villarreal challenged Tottenham Hotspur away in the Champions League, and Pino also had the opportunity to catch up with Marcelino and his old teammates.

"Emery gave me the chance to make my debut and I will always be grateful for everything he taught me and thanks to him I am where I am today. We shook hands but didn't have much time to give each other advice - it all happened very quickly."

Although Although he represented the Spanish national team at the age of 18, a serious knee injury in La Liga caused him to miss the Spanish team's victory at the 2024 European Cup in Germany. However, after returning from injury, the national team coach Luis de la Fuente immediately recalled him.

"I'm very grateful, and Luis knows it too. The players called me during the European Cup, and then also called me during the celebrations, and Luis called me too. I was far away, but they made me feel close, and I'm really grateful."

Barcelona's 18-year-old star Yamal and Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams were the Spanish team's starting players at the winger position during the European Cup, but both missed this international competition due to injury.

After scoring against Georgia, he will be looking to impress again when Valladolid take on Bulgaria on Tuesday.

"Even if I don't play, I will try my best to help the team, and then, when you have the opportunity, do your best to let the national team win. This is not a personal issue. Hopefully we can go further in the World Cup and try to win such an important trophy.

People always say that Spain is the favorite to win. Those of us who step on the field have to prove that we are capable of doing this."