Wolves’ Pablo Sarabia believes he is currently in the best moment of his career after being recalled to the Spanish national team for the first time since December 2022.
The forward has been in impressive form for the Old Gold under Gary O’Neil this season having initially taken time to adapt to the challenge of the Premier League when he first arrived back in January. But with the added experience he has of his time in England, France, Portugal and back in his homeland, the 31-year-old feels he has plenty to offer an otherwise young Spain squad for their friendlies against Colombia and Brazil this month.
On returning to the Spanish squad
“It’s true that hope is never lost. I’m very happy to be here again with the national team and I am very happy to have another opportunity here and to enjoy it with my teammates.
“I was very happy when I found it and it was a tremendous rush because I work to improve every day to try to bring my contribution in my team.
“It has been a long period in which there have been many changes in my life and I have been facing them, accepting and adapting more and more to the situations that have come.
“I have gone through many moments, not only in this season, but in my career. There have been difficult times and other more enjoyable ones, but playing for my national team is always a joy and it is a prize. It is impossible not to be here with a smile and be very happy.”
Pablo checking in with Spain 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/ICmlQ5tyrq
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 18, 2024
On improving as a player at Wolves
“From the first minute I arrived at Wolves, I arrived with a coach in Lopetegui, in what was a totally different league, both for me and for him. There were some changes in my personal life and we had to adapt – adapting to diet, the breaks, which was also the rhythm, because in the end, the rhythm is totally different from the leagues in which I had played.
“At Wolves, I’ve had to do a different job than what I was more used to when I was in Paris or in the previous teams in which I have been, and thanks to that I am enjoying a great season.
“I think that both the team and I are very, very happy and we have a very positive dynamic. I am very proud on a personal level for knowing how to adapt to this type of competition.”
On going up against Joao Gomes and Brazil
“We have talked about it when the national team call-ups came out because ours came out after theirs. I found out that we were going to face each other and that he was also going. He is a great player who is having a great season and I think he has a great future ahead of him.
“We are obviously going to try to use our weapons with our game philosophy to continue with that model and carry it out again, but this is going to be a great test against a very powerful national team.”
Our @GomesOficial08, training with @CBF_Futebol.
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 20, 2024
🇧🇷✨ pic.twitter.com/SGgHMtvvjp
On having experience of playing across Europe
“This has two sides to it. On a personal level, it enriches me a lot to know how to adapt to each country, each culture, each city.
“I think that also brings its part to football – knowing how to understand, knowing how to adapt to different circumstances and contribute with the experience I have with younger people or on the field or with whatever I have to contribute.”
On being a senior member of the Spain squad
“Personally, I am very happy that such young players make it to the national team because that means that Spain is working well in grassroots football, it’s working well in the youth system and it is very important that the Spanish product is working and doing well.
“I don’t feel old because, although I may be 31 years old, I think I am in a very good stage of my life. I think it may be the best moment of my career. There is a big age difference, but I think we all try to bring that experience and that youth that is so necessary to any team.”
On Spain’s chances at Euro 2024
“I don’t like to talk about who is a favourite and who is not. I think every match is different. But we have a very good national team, we have a very good team, and that is what we have to focus on.
“We have to focus on ourselves in the first game, then in the second, and then whatever we find along the way. If we go around with that label [of being favourites], the only thing it can do is weaken us and that does not help us at all.
“Our only objective has to be to focus on our work and do what we know we have to do and from there we will be closer to winning every game.”
