Barcelona new signing compares La Liga with the Premier League - ‘Football here is different’

Anthony Gordon produced a stellar performance in the final third as Barcelona secured a comprehensive 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano on Monday night.

The summer signing from Newcastle United notably assisted one of the goals from Raphinha while also playing a crucial role in Florian Lejeune's own goal.

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The Englishman demonstrated excellent chemistry with his teammates and appears to be settling in well in La Liga.

In the wake of his performance against Rayo, the forward tried to compare La Liga's brand of football with the Premier League.

Gordon on LaLiga vs Premier League

Gordon acknowledged the intensity of English football but highlighted the different demands of Spanish football.

"I'm not going to deny that the Premier League is incredibly intense. The rhythm is relentless, there are physical battles everywhere, long band kicks, corner kicks and a lot of contact.

Gordon had an outstanding game vs Rayo. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

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"That's why many English players believe it is the best league in the world. They're used to that kind of chaos," he said, as quoted by SPORT.

The Englishman then pointed out the nuances of Spanish football, especially in relation to the recent game against Rayo Vallecano.

"Football in Spain is different. Rayo retreated and tried to make the match difficult, something you also see in many mid-table Premier League teams. The difference is that we don't just resort to long balls or relying on ball-to-ball plays," he said.

Gordon praised Barcelona's style as the key differentiator, saying: "We moved the ball, Pedri found spaces between the lines, Lamine and the others created numerical superiority and patiently disarmed them with our football."

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The forward also flagged the technical precision required in La Liga, as he said:

"In England, sometimes intensity can cover up mistakes. You can mis-control the ball and still recover by winning the next physical battle. Here, a bad first touch or a lack of concentration on your positioning can punish you immediately."

"The spaces are smaller, the decisions have to be faster and everything must be cleaner," he added.

Gordon feels suited to La Liga football

Gordon's cross forced Lejeune's own goal. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Gordon believes the Spanish game actually enhances one of his biggest strengths.

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"My speed becomes even more effective here because the movement around me creates opportunities and spaces, rather than everyone simply running forward in straight lines," he said.

At the same time, though, the Englishman was careful not to disrespect the league in which he grew up.

"I loved playing in the Premier League and it played a huge role in my development. But Spanish football demands a different level of tactical and technical intelligence," he said.

He did, however, offer an observation about how certain English sides would cope.

"Some Premier League teams would have a hard time playing this style consistently because they may not have the patience or quality in the midfield that is required."

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