The asturian forward of the Spanish National Team, David Villa, has recognized publicly that the present champions of Europe doesn’t face the World Cup with pressure, but flattered at being one of the favorite candidates to be the definitive champion.

“We have high expectations because in the past few years we’ve had a good trajectory. Everyone is seeing that we can play well, and this is positive. I wouldn’t say it’s pressure, it’s more like praise, the Guaje admitted.

Villa highlighted that the coach has not asked him to play in a different way. “individually he has never told directly what to do, the style of the team is not for a forward to be still, but to keep moving, to help out in the wings, try to make the field bigger so that the players in the midfield have more space created for other players. I also try, when the team is closed in and there are less spaces, come down and help out with the creation of the game”, he explained about his tasks on the field.

He trusts in the recovery of Torres.

Also, he trusts that Fernando Torres can reach the first match against Switzerland in conditions. “I want to play in all the positions that I have been in, I have played all my life in the center forward, but I can play in other positions. For all of us it’s important that Fernando is in the field, but I feel just as comfortable with him as without him”, he said.

The new “blaugrana” forward doesn’t hide his wish to be the “top striker” of the world cup. “I wish. It would be good because that would mean many goals for the team, because I can score them thanks to the team.”

I have to work for the team, with the quality we have for the last pass I will be able to score them.

Villa also insisted on the important presence of Xavi Hernández in the creation of the Spanish game. “the style of the team in the last few years is explained by the combination game, and Xavi decides the style and the pauses of the team. He’s the axis of our mid field” – he insisted on his colleague.

Thus, the “reds” are concentrated in playing a good beginning in the game against Switzerland, who they don’t trust. “we have taken as a reference the matches of the Eurocup, where Switzerland was eliminated without losing any matches. We respect them a lot and we know that if we are at our usual level we have opportunities of winning”.

Of what we have already seen of the World Cup, the “guaje” highlighted the exhibition of Germany: “it was a team who proved to be very superior to their rival, a very good attacking game, and people with a great mobility, and position exchange. They proved that they are a great team and are candidates to win due to their great players” he explained.

“all the matches until theirs were very disputed. The revelation team might be Eslovenia or Ghana who have three points not” he commented as surprises of the first few matches.

“ Calm” after knowing his future

On the personal level, Villa is happy in this World Cup, after signing for FC Barcelona. “For me it was vital to face the World Cup, I am calm, last year I wasn’t and I know that I am going to be in the news for something that happens in the field or in a match, not like last year. I thank both Barcelona and Valencia for this”.

Finally, he didn’t want to refer to the new president of the “blaugrana” team Sandro Rosell. “with the debut in the World Cup in two days away, it’s difficult to be involved in these things. But it’s true that we must be pending. I want to congratulate him and wish him all the luck in the world and that Barcelona continues to achieve victories” – he added.

Interview for Europa Press by David Villa

EP. Potchefstroom (South Africa) 14/06/10