Anthony Gordon shares what Premier League players can do that LaLiga players aren’t allowed to.
Anthony Gordon has shared his thoughts on how the Premier League and LaLiga are quite different since his move to Barcelona this summer.
After spending three and a half years at Newcastle United, Gordon made his dream transfer to Barcelona at the start of the window for £69.3 million.
The 25-year-old caught Hansi Flick’s eye as the top choice for left wing, and he’s already made a strong impression with the Catalan club.
In his LaLiga debut last month, Gordon became the first player this century to record two assists in a game, helping Barcelona to a 5-0 win over Elche. He shone again on Monday night in his second league start, adding his third assist for the club during their 5-2 victory against Rayo Vallecano.
Cutting in from the left and onto his right foot, Gordon made a brilliant reverse pass to Raphinha, who scored his second goal of the match. The assist was so impressive that even Rodri, playing his second match for Barça after a World Cup break, couldn’t believe it, holding his hands over his head in amazement.
As many expected, Gordon has adapted perfectly to LaLiga, enjoying the freedom to roam and the extra space in the attacking third.
LaLiga is known for being less physical than the Premier League, and Gordon explained that the fast and chaotic style of English football is very different from the more skillful and tactical Spanish game.
“I won’t deny the Premier League is super intense,” he told SPORT. “The pace is relentless, with physical battles everywhere, lots of long balls, corners, and contact. Many English players think it’s the best league because of that chaos.
“I loved playing in the Premier League, and it helped me grow a lot. But Spanish football asks for more tactics and technical skills,” Gordon added, saying LaLiga demands sharper focus.
“In England, sometimes playing with intensity can hide mistakes. You might lose the ball but can win it back with physical battles.
“Here, a bad touch or losing your position gets punished fast. The spaces are tighter, decisions need to be quicker, and everything has to be cleaner.”
Gordon played 71 minutes against Rayo, linking up brilliantly with teammates Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Dani Olmo.
The speedy winger has clearly impressed Flick, who called him “awesome” after two assists on his debut against Elche.
“He’s really quick and very clear with the ball,” Flick said. “He gave us two assists; it’s fantastic to have him. We have a lot of speed up front with him, Karim, and Rapha.”
Barcelona will play again on Sunday, September 6, against Valencia, who have one draw and two losses in their first three games.