Spaniard loves the atmosphere at Premier League grounds too.
Arsenal midfield player Santi Cazorla has spoken about his love of the Premier League ahead of the club’s huge north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
The 28-year-old Spain international has also revealed that his inspiration when growing up was the current Swansea City boss Michael Laudrup, who at that time was shining as part of Johan Cruyff’s so-called ‘Dream Team’ of the late Eighties and early Nineties.
“I learned my football in the streets, playing at school, playing football 24/7,” Cazorla told the Daily Mail.
“Sometimes we’d have the ball confiscated and make one out of rolled-up socks or anything we could get our hands on. We’d get punished because we spent too many hours playing football instead of studying like we should have.
“I used to watch Barcelona, the Dream Team, and Laudrup was the one I liked. He was wonderful to watch.
“I was always able to use both feet. It was a gift. Training helps but I’ve been able to do it since I was little. I don’t pay attention to which foot I’m developing, I just train normally and use both feet. I’d say I’m right-footed. If I take a penalty, I prefer my right foot.
“Compared to Spain, the football here is less tactical, but more fun to watch and play. There’s too much technique in Spain and they are held back by it. This makes the match more boring. There’s a better pace in England.
“There’s also more space, especially for footballers like me, and more time to think. Teams always want to attack and score goals in England. In Spain they are locked down by tactics. And the atmosphere here is just amazing.”
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