Gayà: “What it happened has made me stronger”

The memory still hurts. In Amman, in the training session prior to the friendly match that the national team played against Jordan in preparation for the World Cup, José Luis Gayà reached the end line, crossed with his left foot and it was twisted as he put his foot down. He knew immediately that it was a sprain and left the stadium devastated, being conscious that his presence in Qatar was at risk. The technical staff, after tests and assessing all the possible options with the medical services, called off the Valencia left-back, who was given an honourable farewell by the whole squad as he is one of the most beloved players. Gayà missed the World Cup.

"I was really looking forward to it after what happened at the last stage, after the World Cup. I'm very happy to be here again, I'm looking forward to playing these two games and to start a new stage", says the defender, who is proud of being in the call-up list of players.

He is back in the national team, in Luis de la Fuente's first list of the ones who will wear the red jersey for the matches against Norway (Saturday 25th, at La Rosaleda) and Scotland (Tuesday 28th, Hampden Park). In fact, his relationship with the national coach goes back a long way, as the coach already called him up for his first list when he was in charge of the Under-19s more than ten years ago. "He's very close to the player and that's appreciated," he comments on De la Fuente. "He is very straightforward. He is humble; he knows where he comes from and where he wants to go. That's the path we all have to follow, we have to be at one to achieve great things."

Gayà says he is now a stronger player after having experienced painful situations like the one he went through in November in Jordan. He dreamed of the World Cup, of course, but he is excited about the challenges ahead with the Spanish national team. He is committed with the team and their colleagues are celebrating his return for everything he represents off the pitch as well. "I slipped and my ankle twisted, I knew it was going to be a sprain," he says about that fateful injury on November 16th. "I didn't know how bad it was."

He travelled to Doha, but that's when the decision was made. "It's hard to get over it, but I think it's made me stronger both as a person and as a player. What happened to me is something I will remember forever, but it's something I can't change. I did my best and suddenly, I twisted my ankle," he accepts. Now he has a new opportunity, that's how this sport is: "Football is like that, there's always revenge and I'm going to fight to continue being here and achieve great things".

He will do it with his philosophy, which is based on supporting the team, because for him that's what the national team is. "The role is what I've always thought it should be. To be relevant, whether I play or not, to be at the team's service. It's a dream to be here, you have to live every game and every training session as if it was the last. That's the role I think you must have", he remarked.