Anthony Gordon says La Liga 'tougher' than Premier League

The former Newcastle United winger has made an impressive start to life in Spain, registering three assists in his first three matches.

Gordon made history by becoming the first player this century to provide two assists on his LaLiga debut, and he continued his strong form against Rayo Vallecano.

His latest assist came after an inventive backheel set up Raphinha, with new Barcelona signing Rodri appearing stunned by Gordon's quick piece of skill.

The England international said the Premier League remains an extremely demanding competition but believes Spanish football presents different challenges.

"I'm not going to deny that the Premier League is incredibly intense," Gordon said.

"The rhythm is relentless. There are physical battles everywhere. Long ball kicks, corner kicks and a lot of contact.

"That's why many English players believe it is the best league in the world. They're used to that kind of chaos. 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."

Gordon explained that the physical nature of the Premier League can sometimes allow players to recover from mistakes, while errors are punished more quickly in Spain.

"In England, sometimes intensity can cover up mistakes," he added.

"You can miscontrol 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."

The 25-year-old also believes some Premier League clubs could find it difficult to adapt to LaLiga's more patient and technical approach.

"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," Gordon said.

"That's not disrespecting them, it's just what I've noticed in my first games. There's a different football intelligence here."

Gordon will look to continue his impressive start at Barcelona when the Spanish champions travel to face Valencia on Sunday.

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