“Fornals is aware of the freedom and confidence that Pellegrini gives him on the field.”

must return to May 2016 To find out where Fornals first appeared in the Spanish team. He was a soccer player at the time malaga And we had a chance in the final minutes of the friendly. Bosnia In the end, Spain won 3-1. The midfielder was called up again. November 2018At that time, he was in his second season as a soccer player. Villarreal. Seven years ago, Fornals came on in the second half of Spain’s 1-0 friendly against Bosnia. During the last 25 minutes of the match, the midfielder happened to be on the pitch. iscoAt that time, I played as a starter in the Spanish team’s eleven.

Fornals played for Villarreal in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons and was also part of that team. mario gaspard. The defender made his debut in the First Division in March 2009, when Manuel Pellegrini was Villarreal’s manager. Mario Gaspar played throughout his career, which started in the second round of the 08-09 season. Over 400 official matches against Villarreal. He was in the team that won the Europa League in May 2021 and knows what it means to play in a team. spain national team. In fact, it never went under the radar when it debuted just over a decade ago. In October 2015, Mario Gaspar’s only goal helped Spain win against Ukraine (0-1) in a qualifying match for Euro 2016. In 2022, the defender started a new professional stage in Ukraine. Watford Edit. At the time, Fornals was finishing his third season. west ham.

Now that the Betis footballer has been called up to the Spanish national team, Mario Gaspar says: “I’m very happy, firstly because he deserves it. He’s an extraordinary kid. I met him at Villarreal and then when I was at Watford in England, he lived near me and was a good support.” In a conversation with ABC de Sevilla, Mario Gaspar underlined that Fornals’ presence in the Spanish team is something special. “He’s been playing very well for a long time, so it’s no surprise.” And I think it’s the best thing for a player to win that award. Because it’s more than a given.

“I think he’s been good all along, but it’s complicated to go to the national team,” Mario Gaspar emphasized, adding: “Being in a team like Betis, last year’s European campaign, how it started and how he’s playing, he always attracts attention. , has received a well-deserved award. After all, going to the national team is a very great competition and sometimes it does not depend on whether he is that good, but on whether there are other players. In fact, it is a very great pleasure and more than that. Of course.

many years ago

Once the time machine started, Mario Gaspar recalled his two seasons with Fornals in Villarreal’s line-up and thought that Betic’s footballer had “evolved a lot”, citing the fact that Fornals “was always a very good footballer, but he played more on the wing and ran a little more everywhere. I think positioning is more important now. Yes, that’s true.” He loves running because he is a player with plenty of lungs and mileage. But it’s organized and more in the middle. I think it’s improved for his game.” Mario Gaspar thinks that with Fornals’ football sometimes you feel like “Maybe he’s not making that long and consistent effort,” but that doesn’t seem to be the case, and you look at the data and say “Yes, he ran 13 kilometers.” He’s been running the entire game, he’s been very generous with his effort, and it shows in the numbers. ”

Fornals’ current soccer catalog for Real Betis features soccer in midfield and near the opponent’s goal. It has been confirmed several times during the first period of this season. for example, score on consecutive days They drew against Real Sociedad (Betic’s team won 3-1) and away against Levante (2-2). Immediately after a scramble for the ball that appeared to have been lost, Cucho Hernández came on and Abdé played well, resulting in the first goal between Betis and Osasuna (2-0). A few days later, Betic’s second goal in the 1-2 win over Espanyol was the result of a wonderful through ball from the Moroccan footballer. “This was always a success, because if you actually looked at the kilometers traveled, it was one of the most kilometers. It’s amazing to be in the middle and have the ability to come from the second row, but he always had it, because he continues to maintain it as he plays further forward and on the wing,” as Mario Gaspar emphasized, “always achieving everything in defense as well.”

The former Villarreal defender believes Fornals is “smart at reading the play” and “knows the play is coming”, insisting on an idea. The green-and-white midfielder’s football has “evolved a lot since the days when he was playing close to the wings. Now he can reach almost everywhere, on one side, the other side, forward, behind. It should be very encouraging for everyone to play alongside him.”

Mario Gaspard made his debut in the First Division. Pellegrini Currently active as a coach, the Chilean is in charge of Fornals in the green and white. “I think so. He knew him well, knew what he could give, and gave him freedom. Maybe a different type of coach will make you more positional, run less, let you go a little more where you think you need to go, and hold you back at times. I think Pellegrini knows that and understands that. Moreover, Pellegrini’s football has always been happy and moving forward. he knows he can do it. It gave him freedom and confidence and he recognized that on the field and showed it,” he added.