David Villa has said he is willing to play in a number of different positions for Spain as it gives him more chances to get in the team.
Villa scored twice as La Roja beat El Salvador on Saturday, coming off the bench at half-time to ensure Spain went into the defence of their World Cup with a win.
He spoke to reporters after the match and reflected on a 45 minutes that saw him play a number of different roles.
“I started as second striker, spent a while on the wing and then I ended as a striker,” AS reports Villa as saying.
“I’m happy because [Vicente Del Bosque] sees me in several positions and that gives me more options.”
Villa and Diego Costa were on the pitch together for around 30 minutes, with Villa praising the performance of his former Atletico Madrid teammate but admitting they are in competition with each other.
“Diego played well and didn’t have the luck in front of goal,” Villa argued.
“Ours is a debate every day in training. We have to work to be ready when the Coach decides to tell us.”
The match, held at Washington DC’s FedEx Field, provided Spain with an inkling as to what to expect from conditions in Brazil. Villa acknowledged that’s a positive but was struck by the heat.
“It was complicated by the weather, it was very hot, and the grass,” he continued.
“I thought the team started well and ended well. I think we’re ready and a good test like this is positive.
“These are the conditions we will encounter in Brazil. It was hard to keep a high pace. You did two sprints and you needed rest. But it’s positive.”
Villa was also asked about the constant reviews the Spain side are under, stressing that while it can be a grind, the team’s job is to get past it and enter a good performance at the World Cup.
“It’s normal that people talk. Sometimes people get tired of it and it’s the same for those higher-up.
“But we have to continue the dream. We really want to retain [the World Cup].”
And on the subject of penalties – after Cesc Fabregas missed an early spot-kick by some distance – Villa suggested it was simply a matter of confidence.
“It’s a shame if the team has a weakness with penalties, and I tell you, I’ve missed several,” he said.
“We have to wait for the next one and be confident and score.”
