Athletic Bilbao and Spain midfielder Ander Iturraspe has shied away from comparisons with Xabi Alonso while praising the World Cup winner.
Iturraspe is part of the Spain squad to play Macedonia tonight in the first round of Euro 2016 qualifiers and says he is still getting to grips with the level of his teammates’ training.
“This is my second time here and I feel more comfortable and settled,” he said, according to AS.
“I’m most surprised by the speed of the ball in the rondos, how quickly it is passed about.
“It’s a pleasure to be here. At first you doubt how the players will greet you but everyone is just normal.
“I’ve been welcomed by everybody. It’s hard to get into the squad because the quality is so high. I have to train hard to get to that level and get in little by little.”
Iturraspe added that since it is his form at club level that has put him in the Roja reckoning, he is aiming to replicate those displays under Vicente Del Bosque.
“I’m just trying to do what I do with my club. I feel good and I just want to adapt to what the Coach wants,” he continued.
“My role models have been Pablo Orbaiz at Athletic and with the national team, Marcos Senna, Sergio Busquets, and Xabi Alonso.”
On the subject of Alonso, Iturraspe praised the Bayern Munich playmaker but insisted he shouldn’t be viewed as his replacement.
“Alonso has done amazing things, contributing to his clubs and the national team,” he said.
“I do want to learn from him but I am a completely different player.”
