Anthony Gordon has hit the ground running since joining from Newcastle United. At FC Barcelona, he has three assists in his first three games in La Liga.
Recently, he’s compared the two leagues, giving a nuanced answer to the age-old question of which league is superior.
He praised the Premier League, where has spent most of his career, for the speed and intensity its played at.
“I won’t deny that the Premier League is incredibly intense. The pace is relentless; there are physical battles all over the pitch,
long throw-ins, corners, and plenty of contact. That’s why many English players believe it’s the best league in the world. They’re used to that kind of chaos,” he said.
“Football in Spain is different,” the winger said. “Spanish football demands a different level of tactical and technical intelligence.”
He noted that when faced with a deep defense, most Premier League teams rely on long balls or set pieces.
Against Rayo Vallecano, Barça had a different approach: “We moved the ball around; Pedri found space between the lines, Lamine Yamal and the others created numerical advantages, and we patiently broke them down with our style of play.”
Despite the intense physical pace of the Premiership, it does have weaker points, the English forward said.
“In England, intensity can sometimes mask errors. You might have a poor touch but still recover by winning the next physical duel. Here, a bad first touch or a lapse in positional concentration can punish you immediately.”
In La Liga, “spaces are tighter, decisions have to be quicker, and everything needs to be cleaner.”
Interestingly, Gordon argued that despite the challenges posed by La Liga defenses, his style of play may be well-suited for the league.
“My speed becomes even more effective here because the movement around me creates opportunities and space, rather than everyone simply running forward in straight lines,” he said.
