Gavi: "In the national team we are a family"

Gavi showed his maturity in an interview with Prensa Ibérica in Enschede (Netherlands), where Spain held a recovery session after eliminating Italy in the semi-final. With calm and well-articulated speech, the 18-year-old spoke clearly and showed the desire he has to succeed with La Roja. He is now more than ready to play in the final and respond to the media.

You are on the verge of playing in your second final of an official tournament with the national team in just two years and at a very young age, how do you feel?

I'm looking forward to the final. I could never have imagined playing in two Nations League finals at this age.

It could be your personal treble of the season with the Spanish Super Cup, La Liga and now the Nations?

Above all I value it for the national team, the Spanish fans deserve a trophy like this and a great joy. I hope we can win the title for them.

Your CV would already start to swell if you beat Croatia on Sunday.

That wouldn't be bad at all. In any case, there are also more trophies I want to win with Barça and the national team. Winning titles makes me happy and I hope we can do it.

Do you feel like the important player you already are in the Spanish national team?

I'm happy for the confidence that the two coaches have given me. Luis Enrique gave me my debut and Luis De la Fuente, who is now here, did the same. I feel very happy and grateful.

You have played all 20 possible games for Spain since you made your debut in the previous Nations League, the only player to have done so, how do you feel about that?

I would never have thought that I could play so many games with the senior national team. Having already played in a World Cup, two Nations Leagues? Every day I think about it, I stop and say: I'm happy and grateful.

What did you think when some media said that Luis de la Fuente was under pressure?

Both the players and the staff are united. We are at one with the coach. He gives us a lot of peace of mind in matches. I'm happy for him that we made it to the final.

It was also said that the players doubted the coach?

A lot of things come out that aren't true... it's normal. We go to the death for him and we will always prove it.

How do you feel in the midfield position where you played against Italy?

I told the coach that I liked that position. My natural position is to play in midfield with three players, but I like it very much as an attacking midfielder. I told him that and I thank him for putting me there.

How is the atmosphere in the team?

Well, we are a family, we are united and everyone knows what to do. We are all very good team-mates.

Luis Enrique said that you can see when a dressing room is healthy at the moment of celebrating goals, against Italy you all jumped up and down, is there no better demonstration than this?

That's what the coach told us before training. Everyone, those of us who played, as well as those who didn't play and were substitutes, were all for the national team and the team. You could see that we were all very happy with the victory.

Did you have a hard time in the last few minutes when Italy were looking for an equaliser?

When I'm on the pitch, I feel good, normal because I'm playing. On the bench it's another thing, as happens to everyone. It's just as bad for me.

Do you remember how you experienced Spain's last title, Euro 2012, when you were just eight years old?

I don't have much of a memory, but I have flashes. I was at home with the family watching and celebrating the title. In my village, Los Palacios y Villafranca, people always go to the same place to celebrate and I went with my family.

Have you joked a lot with Jesús Navas, who is from the same village as you?

There is also Fabián, but Jesús, because of his career, is the biggest legend in my town. I admire him a lot. I hope one day to win whatever I can win.

Did you know him before joining this camp?

When I was a kid I saw him once and asked him for an autograph. I remember I was in a bar and I approached him. I have very good memories.

What about Croatia, Sunday's opponents with Luka Modric running the show?

Modric is a top player, we all know that. I expect it to be a competitive game, they compete very well and have a good team. They are united and they all go together. They run a lot throughout the game. It's going to be hard-fought and we'll see what comes out of it.

Croatia is united, as Spain now seems to be, what did you think when it was said that you were the cause of a bad atmosphere in the previous training camp?

I didn't understand when they said that. All the players can tell you that I'm a very nice guy in the dressing room. I get on very well with everyone, I didn't understand it (in the middle of the interview Joselu appears and makes a joke).

Is the Ceballos issue settled?

The coach made it clear to us that what happened on the pitch stayed on the pitch, in the national team we are all on the same page and that's what we do.