His January move to Birmingham City brought with it a reflection on what it means that a team in the Championship, the second tier of English football, could sign an important player from La Liga mid-season. His departure is just one more example of the difference between the two countries’ football economics.

In an interesting conversation with Flashscore, Vicente explained why he decided to move down a division and leave Spain to face a new challenge in England. The winger also talks about his time at Alaves, for whom he scored five goals in the first half of the La Liga season.

You got an assist on your Birmingham debut. Not bad, right?

“Well, yes, the truth is that I’m very happy with how that first game went, and also because we already have a good feeling with the team and we understand each other quite well. To arrive and win, and on top of that to be able to give an assist, well, everything was great.”

Why did you agree to join Birmingham?

“I’ve already been asked this question and everyone has their own opinion, although I don’t really care. It is true what everyone can imagine, that obviously there is a good financial offer behind and nobody is going to fool you about that, but above all there are two things.

“Firstly, the project they have here is that there really is an immediate urgency to get promoted to the Premier League, and as a player, I want to play in it. And to do it this way would be even nicer.

And then, secondly, the fact of how they wanted me and how they have shown me the interest they had in me; that it was necessary in some way. So, well, that also made me choose this one among other options.”

There has been a lot of talk about other teams being interested in you. Were you only interested in going abroad or did you have other options as well? 

“Yes, well, I had other options abroad. It’s true that in Spain I didn’t, because I understand that the market is as it is. But, well, I did have other things: I mean, all of them from abroad.

“But well, when you put together all the factors that I’ve told you and you have to make a decision, I think that coming here was a good decision, and for now I’m confirming it. So I don’t regret it at all. I’m very happy here.”

Derby against Aston Villa on the horizon?

Carlos, on a personal level, what do you think are the key factors in adapting to England?

“Thanks to the fact that I know a bit of English and I can manage quite well, there have been no problems with that. But above all, I think the key is to listen, to be very attentive and to pay attention to people’s day-to-day lives, to how they work and what they like to do.

“It’s not just about being attentive, but also being proactive when it comes to asking the coach questions or trying to solve any doubts that exist. Everything very naturally obviously, but I think that would be the key to integrating as soon as possible.”

I would like to talk a little bit about the difference between Spanish football and English football. Do you notice the difference in intensity in the matches and in training?

“Yes, yes, totally. The league is perhaps less tactical and there is less quality when it comes to playing, but it is much more physical. That is to say, what you say is more immediate and less time to think.

“But, well, I think these are things that suit my characteristics very well. For now, since I’ve arrived, I feel very comfortable. The normal thing is that later on I’ll adapt more and I’ll get even better, right? Let’s hope so.”

Do you dream of playing in the Premier League? Have you thought about it, and do you think it could happen next season?

“Yes, absolutely. If not, I wouldn’t have agreed to come here, that’s for sure. I think the project that they have here, as I said before, the feeling that they give us or the message is that there is a certain urgency, that it has to happen now and that the club really wants to be there.

“And it is a challenge that I have taken on at a personal level, in the most complete way that you can imagine. I mean, for me it’s my biggest challenge since I’ve been in professional football. So I think it’s possible, obviously, and I think we have the skills to achieve it if we are at the level we have to be at.”

Are you motivated by the possibility of a derby against Aston Villa next season?

“Well, first of all, as they say, it’s one game at a time and achieving the goal, but you do take it as motivation. It would be very nice here in Birmingham, and it can certainly help you have more motivation and want even more to complete that challenge, that motivation.”

Have you been told about this rivalry between Birmingham and Aston Villa?

“Yes, it’s been mentioned. When I came here, well obviously I asked a lot of questions. The people within the club, I think, apart from one person who has some sympathy, the rest are Birmingham fans. It’s true that everybody wants Aston Villa to lose at the weekend.”

Why do you think this league is so interesting and so attractive to players?

“You have to take into account the characteristics of the football played here. Maybe that can be more interesting for certain players. Then it has competitiveness because it’s true, it’s the most competitive league in the world. Obviously, it’s not the best, but it’s the one with the most equality between all the teams, so it makes it very attractive.

“And then, as we have seen, perhaps also the possibilities that the teams here have right now, compared to other leagues, it is clear that in that sense they are above the rest.”

You are having a very good season. Do you hope to maintain that level at your new club?

“Well, I hope so, to be honest, and I’m working 100% to do so. Maybe in terms of starts, it hasn’t been a season like last year, for example, when I played absolutely everything, but I think I’ve made up for it not only in terms of playing, but above all in terms of scoring goals.

“I think it’s my best season since I’ve been a professional, for sure. In half a season I’ve scored more goals than the last two seasons combined, it’s crazy, and also in the elite.

“So yes, my goal is absolutely to continue that streak, either with goals or assists, and to help the team as much as possible so that we can achieve the goal, which is what we all want, nothing more.”

Vicente was ‘very happy’ at Alaves

How exactly would you sum up your time at Alaves? What memories do you have? 

“Well, I think the word is happy. I don’t think there has been a day there that I haven’t been happy, not just because of the day-to-day, the way the club treated me, the way the fans treated me, the way my time went. 

“I think I’ve been able to help the team a lot in these two years, and I think the objectives have been achieved since I’ve been there. So, well, it’s a feeling of happiness and fulfilment that you can have doing your job and being happy doing it. I don’t regret and I don’t think I will ever regret the decision I made to go to Alaves, and I think I’ve been, as I said, very happy.”

How do you see Alaves’ season and how far do you think they can go?

“The first thing they have to try to do is to keep the category. I think they’re going to achieve that, given the squad they have and above all the way they work. Then we’ll see if they can aspire to other types of objectives, but it’s true, and I obviously know this because I’ve been there, that the first objective is to stay there.

“I think that at the club, moreover, in a way, they are ambitious. It was a shame the Cup elimination, which I was watching and I think they deserved more, but football is like that. I’m sure they will achieve their goals easily.”

I’d like to take us back a little bit to the past. What was it like at Ferrol when you were promoted to the second division?

“I think it’s the best football memory I have in my life. I think that says it all. The year I lived there, that year in particular, how I lived it, how the city lived it and how it woke up, how we made fans of many little ones? It was the best possible culmination of that year. And I tell you, it was one of the happiest memories I can have.”

And did you notice much difference between Racing Ferrol and Alaves?

“Well, on a footballing level, it’s clear that the fact of going from Primera RFEF to Segunda and then to Primera, you notice a leap both physically and qualitatively, as well as in terms of impact. But I think the style of the city and how people treated me was very similar.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be in two places where I was very happy and where I didn’t lack anything. The people treated me spectacularly and, well, they are one of those places where you say you can’t close a door; I don’t know, at any time in my career I could go back there, because I have really been very happy.

“That says it all for me, and that’s what I think every player expects from his time at any team.”

Well, Carlos, let’s go back to Birmingham. Although you’re in 10th place right now, is it really a target to fight for promotion in your opinion? What’s the atmosphere in the dressing room like?

“The people, the fans and the players are ambitious. Obviously, the club doesn’t need to prove it anymore with all the investment they have made in the winter and an absolute statement of intent of what they want to achieve.

“So, the objective is there and so are the possibilities. We are going to give everything in our power, and I don’t know, I have a very good feeling that we can achieve it this year, and if not next year, without a doubt.”

What is the atmosphere in the dressing room like compared to the two Spanish teams you played for?

“Since I arrived here the people have treated me great, and the teammates have been superb. When you break the language barrier, it doesn’t matter if you’re Spanish, English, German…. The feeling has been great.

“There are obviously a couple of jokes, but I think what matters above all is the feeling of family that you have and how there really is a tremendous good vibe, which is what shapes the day-to-day and then the results come out.”

You’re talking about language skills. Were you preparing for this kind of move in your career? Have you learnt English before or have you learnt by listening to music, playing Playstation or things like that? 

“Apart from my studies, I wasn’t preparing for anything. You always know there can be interests and in football, obviously, you know that one day you can be here and the next day you can be there.

“I didn’t prepare myself for a specific move, so to speak. But well, with the level that I may have had before, plus University, where some subjects were in English, and then YouTube, playing the Playstation and so on, everything was in English. I think I have a very good base from there. From here they tell me that I speak great English, so it must be good enough for me.”

Carlos, your new coach, Chris Davies, has a reputation as a promising coach. He won titles last year, what kind of relationship would you like to have with a coach like that? What do you ask of him?

“Well, in terms of a relationship, pretty much what I’ve had with any coach. You know that there is a certain hierarchy, but at the same time it’s close and you can normalise certain situations, like talking about anything that might happen to you, your form, any event…. In that sense, both in Racing de Ferrol and in Alaves, I haven’t had any problem.

“And then, regarding what he asks for, he is a coach who likes, above all, despite the fact that the league is super physical and quite direct, to give that touch of quality to the game, to give two passes more. And I think that fits in very well with my qualities, not only because he comes from La Liga in Spain, where the ball is played a lot more, but also because they make good use of my qualities: speed, verticality, generating things… So, from there, for the wingers, for example, he asks them to be tall and open. I think that’s something that suits me perfectly.”

Do you see a lot of talent in the team? Jay Stansfield has nine goals and five assists, for example. Do you think the players you have a future at a higher level?

“Yes, obviously. I don’t think the level is anything like that of La Liga. I mean, obviously, if you watch a game, it might not seem the same to you, or maybe you have a different appreciation of football, but as far as individual level is concerned, I think it has nothing to envy teams in the Spanish elite.”

How do you see Birmingham as a city?

“The English weather already knew what it was like. I mean, I think you have to adapt there and there is no problem because in Vitoria, in terms of weather, it is very cold and I don’t think the change is going to be very noticeable.

“In terms of the city, obviously I think it’s quite a big change because Birmingham is quite a big city with a lot of traffic, but well, the fact that you live a bit away from the city centre gives you peace of mind, and so far I’m very satisfied with what I’ve seen. I’m liking it a lot in the short time I’ve been here.”

I know you are a fan of the NFL and Tom Brady is in the property. Do you think the mentality of this type of athlete can help Birmingham to get closer to the Premiership and win titles?

“Yes, without a doubt. It’s not because he says ‘he’s got us motivated because he inspires us’, it’s not just that, it’s that he really gets involved and has provided his vision to the club, to how it can be better organised at a treatment level and he’s set out a set of guidelines that the players help us and that’s for our best performance. So that’s also what he brings to the club, and that’s really going to make you a better player for sure.”

Have you been able to meet him and chat with him a little bit?

“Yes, I’ve had a video call with him and I’m looking forward to meeting him soon. I think he’s going to come here soon. He’s given me a lot of confidence, a lot of good vibes and I really enjoyed meeting him.”