)
Kelechi Nwakali compares Spanish football with English football in a recent interview.
Kelechi Nwakali claimed playing football in La Liga requires more intelligence than in the Premier League in a recent interview with La Liga
Kelechi Nwakali has said in an interview that he thought La Liga was superior tactically to the Premier League, and living in Spain was better than living in England because of the weather.
Kelechi Nwakali plays for Spanish outfit Ponferradina in the second division of La Liga. The 24-year-old was on the books of Arsenal from 2016 until 2019 when he made a permanent move to Spanish side Huesca.
La Liga more tactical than the Premier League- Nwakali
Nwakali sat down with La Liga to speak on his experience so far, and he did not shy away from comparing life in Spain with the experiences he had in England with Arsenal.
La Liga posted the interview on their social media pages, with Nwakali answering questions like what his debut felt like, and how he thought La Liga compared with the Premier League.
“I think the Spanish football is required of more [requires more] intelligence, they play more tactical football, more than England.” Nwakali claims
“England is more physicality to be compared with Spanish football [English football is more physical than Spanish football].”
Nwakali on if Spain feels like home
“I am going to say after many years, I still love to live in England. Yeah, but it is good in Spain compared to England because of the weather and everything.” The former Arsenal player said.
)
Nwakali on his debut against Real Madrid
“My first game in the first division was against Villareal, and then my first start of the league was against Madrid [Real Madrid]. That was the first game I started, it was good it was like wow” Nwakali said.”
)
“Starting against Madrid, playing against Modric, Toni Kroos and other players, so it was very good.
“I think it is good for every young player, to play against or even play for Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu, it is where a lot of legends have played, so it was a good dream to see myself playing against Madrid.”
Nwakali on his aspirations for Ponferradina
“ I think the dream of the team is to promote [the dream of the team is to gain promotion into the first division], I think that is the dream, that is the goal of the team starting of the season[that is the goal of the team at the start of the season].” He revealed
)
“In as much as it is not going the best way we wished or we planned for the season, but we still keep our faith in working as a team, believing in ourselves, to see what we can achieve for the season”
Nwakali on his favourite Nigerian player that played in Laliga
Nwakali was quick to mention his former coach at the U17 level, Emmanuel Amunike, who played for Barcelona in La Liga from 1996 till 2000 when asked who his favourite Nigerian to play in the league was.
“Of course” he answered when asked again.
Before adding “Ike Uche also made a good name, when he played for Villareal and Zaragoza.”
Nwakali’s message to Nigerians
He ended the interview by asking for support from Nigerians
“We the Nigerians playing in the La Liga would keep making them proud [We Nigerians in La Liga would keep making them proud], and we always wish for them to support us.”
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)