Andrés García: “The English fans applaud you even though he fails, I had never seen that”

– What did you feel when you were summoned for the first time with the Spanish team?

– I agree that the list of summoned on Friday was given and I was expectant with my family at home. My mother was working, but I was aware of the mobile all the time and I was with my father. Almost at twelve my representative calls me and tells me, that I am summoned, that the list had been given. It was a relief, an explosion of emotions. I was with my parents, we were very happy. What I have felt these first days is that there is a union in the spectacular group, that there is a very close treatment of the entire coaching staff, of all, of the press, from all over the world in general and what they do is put the things easier. And enjoy the experience, which is for what it is.

– With the expectation generated, was it expected to enter the list?

– See, wait either. You are under notice because they are already notifying you of the club that can give the opportunity. You are telling your surrounding people, but hey, you know there is a lot of competition. There were also other sides that are at a high level. I was expectant. I was sure of the work I had done and how I had been progressing during this year. And it was already the decision of the entire coaching staff, of Santi Denia, of those responsible for bringing me or not. The opportunity has been given, I overwhelmed everyone, willing to demonstrate why I am here and with great desire.

– When one has never attended a selection, how is it hope to ever represent Spain?

–I maintain the day -to -day motto. Always, even before coming here, of being at Aston Villa. While in Levante I had a motto that was to live daily, be happy with what I did every day, improve what I could every day, take experiences, take advantage of the whole world that I had around me to help me. See videos, watch games, see examples that have passed through here, see sides. All that is what I was doing so far and, above all, to improve aspects in which I knew that I could improve, that everyone told me and little by little. It is a wheel. For me the effort is the basis of everything. You can have talent, of course, because talent is also necessary, but for me there is a great base, which is the effort and, above all, the mentality. How you carry it, how are you every day, how you face the bumps, how you go out of them, how you stay in the peaks in which these opportunities are given and stay at the foot of the canyon working.

– His signing helped a lot for Aston Villa.

– Yes, it may have been a very important factor, because climbing that step, climbing that step of what is one of the best leagues, not to say the best, because it is a great showcase. You have many more eyes pending from you, you are facing the best and that is where you can expose your level of truth. But I already tell you, there are second division players as they are Matthew [Joseph, Leeds] or the sunderland boy [Eliezer Mayenda]. They have a very high level, even being in the Second Division of England are cannons. Then there may be people hidden out there, by the second division or divisions that we do not know that they also suddenly jump with what I have told you about the fruit of effort and work, which can also be given to birth. In the end I think it has been a step forward. A step that helps me get this kind of thing.

– his signing spread a lot. How do you explain that a team of Champions Ficans fiche a second side?

– The best thing is because as you were already talking and rumored with teams that loved me this January, Betis, Sevilla, was rumored. Then came the sporting of Lisbon very strongly. Maybe it is because they already wanted to have me a little in their dynamics, have me there to improve those points, take me little by little and get a footballer. I think that is your idea. In the end it has occurred in this way because the signing markets move things a lot. But I already tell you, in the end, the result of work, effort. I guess all of Aston Villa also have an idea with me in the future.

– What importance did the two visible heads of the project, two Spaniards like Emery and Monchi?

– It knew that everything that the Aston Villa managed, who were in front were Spanish. Also Unai, of course. I know his career, be the type of coach he is, he is very hungry to win, he is supercompetitive. It is something that also goes in me. The decision, when Aston Villa emerged, was easy because it is better impossible. The whole coaching staff is Spanish. There was also a player superclass like Drass, like Pau Torres, like Asensio. I am surrounded by wonderful people, Spanish people, those who are not English also behave with me, all the people of the club. I did not expect the spectacular treatment that they have given me. In the end they take care of you as a child, they give you all the facilities and what I tell you. Aston Villa’s decision was very easy.

– How have you noticed the change from Spanish football to English?

– The first days are very change, of trying to absorb everything possible. I remember that the whole coaching staff was very aware of me, giving me advice. Then many videos also of games of games that they taught me of how previous players had corrected their mistakes with them. They taught me that everyone makes mistakes and that it can be reversed with work and with a lot of constancy. I saw how the league was. I remember the first game that surprised the rhythm that there were, especially the first thirty minutes, which is when the teams squeeze the most, that there are almost no possessions, which is a game of many counterattacks and many recoveries. But I consider that I am a player who absorbs fast, who adapts to any environment and, I already tell you, trying to improve everything I can and what the coaches are telling me.

– Despite the little time it takes, have you noticed the change in the pressure felt by the players?

– Yes, because I believe that football is lived differently. From the first moment you notice a respect for the extraordinary fans, I had never seen that. I remember the first game, when I saw it in the stands, which went against Celtic in Champions, which was a spectacular atmosphere. Everyone, even if a player failed, applauded or backed him. I had never seen that and I thought about the opposite. I say this level change I suppose that the fans will squeeze much more, but no. The English fans have enormous respect and I think he lives in football in another way. So that also helps players a bit

– There has been a lot of arbitrations in Spain. Is the atmosphere with the referees more relaxed?

– Yes, it’s like trying to have the maximum possible minutes. The law of the advantage leaves a lot, they do not whistle any fault, they let the game continue. And that in the end is to provide the show to the fan of a much more dynamic football, without so many stops. That helps the league to be so attractive, that many people follow it. Yes there is difference, I have noticed it.

– How was the change from Valencia to Birmingham?

–It is a big change. Valencia, Mediterranean climate, how is culture, people, who are out, a lot of joy, when you walk through the city, you see everyone, many full terraces, the sunny climate … changes, changes. You know what you are going. When you go to England, you know what you are going to. You know that you are going to the best league in the world, that you are going to learn from the best and that you are going to live football. I knew the step I took, I knew what I faced. I was looking forward to that and I know that this step will make me much better footballer.

“Do you see alone?”

– I would take the step alone, but the first months, to acclimatize and my parents came, they gave me a company, friends have come. I know that when it is Holy Week and there will be a little holiday, more friends will come. But I also wanted to take the step of living alone, to live the experience, because in the end you are immersed in the routine, it is immersed in football and there is nothing else. So it is not that it affects me a lot to be alone. I am thinking and living football. Being only a bad stretch.

– Throughout his career, do he compensate to think only of football or is it preferable to combine it with a life like the one in Spain?

–My goal is to live football to the fullest, get the highest level that you can get, try to be an important figure in football and who knows what the future will hold. Those are more or less the objectives I have. If it can be given in Spain, then better, because it is my native country and that is where I have always lived, but if it has to be in another country there is no problem. In the end you live in football, you know that these changes can be given and you have to live with them.

– What point has it helped be the end of the end on the side? Because the four goals he scored with Levante were spectacular.

“Well, yes, she has helped me.” To be a long time of extreme gives you that imbalance in one against one, it gives you that freedom when attacking, of making decisions, those centers. Then, when I reconvert myself to the side, I have been very aware of defending, to improve those defensive aspects, profiles, etc. There are many figures at the high level such as Jordi Alba, Jesús Navas … There are millions that have been converted to the side and have been great lateral and maximum level. In the end it gives you these two characteristics, which you can help defensively and then exploit the offensive. It is a bit what has defined me as a player.