Tottenham loanee Bryan Gil has admitted he was not up to the physical level required in the Premier League during his first spell with the club as the winger looks to improve on loan at Valencia.
Winger Gil joined Spurs in the summer in a deal that saw the north Londoners pay Sevilla £21.6million and also allow Erik Lamela to join the LaLiga club.
He came with a reputation as one of Spain’s brightest young talents but found adaptation to the Premier League’s physical style of play difficult, as he could not break into the fold in North London.
Bryan Gil was limited to appearances off the bench under both Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte as Conte cited its due to lack of his physicality. (Getty)
After departing for Valencia on loan in January, six months after joining from Sevilla, Bryan has quickly become a fan favorite at the Mestalla.
Gil has made six appearances for Valencia so far during his loan spell, notching an assist against Barcelona in La Liga in the process but the intensity of training at Spurs has helped since returning to Spain and still maintains he has work to do to be ready to play in the Premier League.
Speaking to Spanish publication AS, Bryan admitted that making the transition has been tough, and that he wasn’t getting the match time that he was expecting, but it has helped him develop as a player.
‘In the Premier League training sessions are very physical, very hard, and that has helped me not to feel fatigue now
It [the physical level of the Premier League] shows a lot, really. It is a slightly higher level of intensity. I physically noticed it. The adaptation for me was difficult. It is a very physical football, back and forth.
‘Being there has been good for me, even if I didn’t play what I wanted. I am more mature. I changed habits like eating, I had a chef at home and I gained two kilos.
‘Even so, I noticed that it was not enough for the physical level that exists in the Premier League.
In Valencia I continue to work hard on endurance, physicality, in case I have to come back, to be prepared.
‘Every player needs and wants to have continuity, feel important. Here in Valencia I am feeling it from the first day. That shows on the field, in training, the attitude, you see football with another face.You always have to be ready in case you have to live the other part, and I lived it in London.
Not playing affects you on a day-to-day basis, obviously, because you are sadder and more downcast. But it is part of football and you have to accept it. And the experience in London has been good for me.’
‘Being in another country, playing in another league, going through complicated personal situations far from home… these are small steps that you have to take and that make you mature.’
I’m young, but in football there is no age and you have to assimilate each situation as best you can.’
However, despite the speculation whistling around, Bryan, he didn’t allow himself to be drawn into speculation on his future.
“I belong to Tottenham and they are the ones who have to decide. It’s not up to me.
“That will depend on the clubs, I just do what I’m told.”
There is no denying that Gil didn’t quite have the physicality that the Premier League requires and even more so under a manager like Conte, who is known for his regimented managerial methods.
But, The youngster did admit he was working to make positive changes as he keen to force himself into Conte’s starting XI.
Gil showed glimpses of his potential and always brought extra energy on the pitch anytime when given chances and could he replicate his success in Premier League, he would surely be the biggest Bargain ever since Heung-Min Son transfer from Bayern Leverkusen for a reported fee to £22m.