Yéremy Pino ahead of Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano: Premier League on ‘another level’ to LaLiga
The winger who has been called up to Spain’s World Cup squad spoke ahead of the Conference League final between Palace and Rayo on Wednesday
Yéremy Pino has endured an unsteady first season in English football since moving to Crystal Palace from Villarreal last summer, and has admitted that his adaptation to the Premier League has been tougher than he first expected.
Despite what has been a tough season on a personal level, things are now looking up for Pino after he was selected for the Spain national team’s World Cup squad, and now has the chance to end the campaign with a European trophy on Wednesday.
The winger helped Villarreal to their first every continental trophy in 2021/22, winning the Europa League against Manchester United, and now aims to do the same with Palace, against Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final.
The 23-year-old made a surprise switch in the summer from Villarreal, a Champions League side, to Crystal Palace for a fee of €30 million. Although a regular place in the line-up has been difficult to cement, Pino has featured in 52 matches this season in all competitions, and has shown glimpses of his quality in what has been a transitional season in England.
Speaking to Radio MARCA before the Conference League final, Pino delved into the differences between LaLiga and the Premier League, asserting that English football is far more difficult.
On adapting to the Premier League, Pino admitted that it was tougher than he expected.
“I didn’t think so but the truth is that the level of play here is on another level. The level of competition here is incredibly high,” he said.
“Not to take anything away from LaLiga, but the pace here is truly on another level.”
He was then asked if he would rather play in a match between Crystal Palace and Wolves or a Villarreal vs Osasuna game.
“Well, let’s see, I’d rather play against Osasuna. At the end of the day, here [in England] the games are all about aerial balls, long passes, constant duels – they don’t let you catch your breath.
“Receiving the ball with your back to goal is almost impossible. It’s very difficult, and the truth is that the level of play here, in my opinion, is much higher than in LaLiga,” he stated.
On Crystal Palace’s European campaign, Pino admits that the season started slowly but the team has gone from strength to strength.
“The truth is that all European competitions are a bit tough at first until you get into the right mindset,” he stated. “But then the team changed its attitude and we realised it was a great opportunity to achieve something significant.
“And that’s what we’ve done over the past few months against some very tough opponents, and I think we’ve risen to the occasion.”
Palace go into Wednesday’s final against Rayo as favourites, but Pino played down such labels.
“Honestly, I don’t consider myself favourite,” he said. “Rayo have done very well in the last eight games, and anything can happen in a single match.
“There’s a lot of talk about the budget or the value of the squads, but it’s ultimately 11 against 11, and you have to give it your all on the field, as they say.”
