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Ayoze Perez interview in Tenerife – Missing Coloccini, his debt, and what he’ll do if no promotion

8 years ago
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Ayoze Perez is a conundrum.

A player with obvious talent but does he do enough in matches to justify a place in the Newcastle side and what exactly is his place (position) in that Newcastle team?

Rafa Benitez has used Ayoze Perez in eight of the nine Championship matches so far, five of them in the starting line-up.

However, the only start that saw him play through the middle was alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic and Newcastle beat QPR 6-0 (both strikers scored), only for Rafa to then ignore this partnership/formation in the following two games, neither of which Newcastle won.

Ayoze Perez has been interviewed by Eldorsal back in his native Tenerife about life at Newcastle and his plans for the future.

Interestingly, the player says that he really misses ‘big brother’ Fabricio Coloccini, saying that the two of them were ‘always together’, though he of course has Rafa Benitez and new signing Jesus Gamez now.

Perez says that he has a ‘debt’ with the Newcastle fans and that played a big part in ignoring alleged interest from ‘big clubs’, with Rafa Benitez also a big influence on his staying.

Personally, I think Ayoze Perez can be a canny player but the supposed interest from Barcelona, Manchester United and similar, is surely nonsense isn’t it?

Asked about what he’ll do of Newcastle didn’t win promotion, Ayoze Perez says that he is so sure of going up that he doesn’t think about it – but if pressed, he admits he would have to make a big decision about his future next summer.

The midfielder/striker says that his aspirations are to play for both Spain and in top European club competitions. Every player should aspire to similar and I suppose the bottom line is, for him to have any chance of doing either (whether for Newcastle or somebody else) he will have to do an awful lot better than we have seen so far this season.

Ayoze Perez talking to Eldorsal:

‘Good afternoon, how is your your English?’

“I get along very well. After two years here, I think bilingual. It is very good for me and I am very happy to speak another language.”

‘The rumor mill has placed you over the past two years elsewhere in England and Spain great, but eventually you’ve stayed in Newcastle, a source of pride for the fans?’

“The fans have always been very close and have always thanked me for staying – despite the interest that there has been from big clubs to sign me. I have a debt with the fans, I want to return to the Premier League with Newcastle.”

‘When making the decision to stay, did it have much to do with Rafa Benitez?

“He had much influence, he is a great manager and it also helps to speak the same language. His methods are to my liking and I decided to go with him on this challenge.”

‘Now without Coloccini as ‘big brother’, how are you doing this season without him?’

“Complicated, we were always together and he helped me a lot in me settling in when I came to Newcastle. It is a little harder but I keep a very great relationship with him, even if from a distance. Now I have a Spanish teammate in Jesus Gamez, gradually we get to know better.”

‘If Newcastle does not rise to the Premier League, will you leave?’

“I do not think about this because I trust in the return to the Premier League, I see the team able to return (this season), If that was the case (not getting promotion) I would have to then take an important decision about my future.”

‘What are the similarities and differences regarding the Spanish Second?’

“There is little difference, except in the quality of players. It’s a tough competition with many games, but we have a great squad and we should be able to go up.”

‘You play more than fifty games if injuries permit, how physically demanding could it be this season?’

“We must be professional. We play midweek and weekend, and physically you can get diminished to some degree. You have to be in tune all the time, we have progressed in the League Cup and we also have to play the FA Cup from January.”

‘Your contract expires in 2021. What challenges do you propose for the coming years?’

“I am very ambitious. I would like to some day play with the national team and in European competitions. To do this I work very hard every day.”

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