Despite the current circumstances caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many of us are fortunate enough, while at home, to be in the company of our loved ones.
It speaks volumes, therefore, of West Ham United midfielder Pablo Fornals – almost 800 miles away from his home city of Castellón de la Plana in the Valencian Community – that the 24-year-old Spaniard has carried on doing what he does best: working hard.
Despite the previous weeks being without Premier League football, Fornals has continued to display the conscientious and studious outlook which has endeared himself to Claret and Blue supporters throughout his debut season in Claret and Blue.
What’s more, he does so with optimism, telling Sky Sports News: “I’m good. I’m trying to do many things with my time because I can do more than just stay at home – I clean, I cook, I do my exercises, and I talk with lots of people.
“My family are okay – they are all together. My sister lives at home with my parents, and all three are together, so I’m happy. I want to be with them but I can’t; I just want to be playing as soon as possible.”
Support, Fornals added, has been forthcoming: “Lots of the guys ask about me, my situation and how I’m doing living this situation alone at home, so I’m happy to be in this team.”
Joining West Ham on a transfer from Villarreal last summer, the amiable Fornals is the first to admit that his new life in the Premier League took some initial adjusting to.
After broadly impressing with his work rate, it soon became clear from the flashes of his obvious talent that once the Spaniard’s first goal contribution arrived, they would flow.
And so arrived that first hot streak in Claret and Blue – three assists and a goal in five matches in Winter – which was swiftly followed in February by a goal at Anfield and two assists against Southampton.
I recommend to all Spanish players to come here and learn about these things. You can’t explain to anybody the intensity of this league and this culture, you need to see it [for yourself]
Pablo Fornals
Fornals’ acclimatisation from La Liga to London was complete.
“I needed a few months but I think now I have been having good games, creating good chances and scoring goals,” he smiled. “[Before football’s suspension] I was really feeling good and excited because I was playing well.
“I come from a small town, a small city, so London for me is like a whole country!
“The intensity in England is very hard. The people here prefer you to attack every time, pass the ball, control the games... I think it’s the English football culture, and it’s one of the things that makes this league one of the best in the world – the aggression of the players, the chances in every game, so I’m happy to learn about these kinds of things.
“I recommend to all Spanish players to come here and learn about these things. You can’t explain to anybody the intensity of this league and this culture, you need to see it [for yourself].
“I’m confident that 2019/20 will not be my best season in England; I want to show our fans that what people saw this year is not the real Pablo Fornals – I can do better.”
Honest in both his work and his manner, it is hard not to admire a man who truly embodies the values he bestows.
“I’m not the best technical player in our team or in the league, but I’m a worker,” he explains. “It’s my feeling about football: work hard, never give up.
“The position that I usually have played is the No10, but if I can do more on the wing for my team than the coach believes I can do in the middle, I need to work for them and my team-mates.”
One huge aide to his acclimatisation, Fornals admits, has been his fellow team-mates.
“It was easier because in the team there are a lot of players who speak Spanish so it was easier to adapt," he explained. “I am not a good English speaker yet, so for this reason I speak mostly with the Spanish-speaking guys!
“Apart from this, I kill myself laughing at Michail [Antonio]! [Robert] Snodgrass is so funny as well, he’s a joker, and [Jack] Wilshere is funny as well. We have a very nice group."
It is such friendships and mutual respect within the dressing room which Fornals urges West Ham fans, and the general public as a whole, to replicate – by following government guidelines, ensuring safe social distancing, and looking out for our communities.
“I think it is necessary here in England,” he explained, “because I was going to the park to run individually every day, doing my exercise, and then parks, which once were empty, became full of people.
“I think this isn’t good for people; we need to be human and respect each other, because that’s the way we will get through this time.”
