At the Spanish national team training camp, Fabian Ruiz was interviewed by As. He shares his experience with the national team and looks ahead to the future of the national team. Also, he talks about Los Palacios, the town he comes from, and the soccer atmosphere there.
The soccer atmosphere in Los Palacios
Reporter: What kind of water do people in Los Palacios drink to produce so many stars like you, Garvey, and Jesus Navas?
Fabian Ruiz: Haha, it's not the water, it's the tomatoes! We have great tomatoes there and I would recommend them to everyone! It's great to be from Los Palacios and to play for the national team with legends like Jesus Navas and players like Xavi. It's an honor for all three of us to come from the same place and to be teammates in this Spanish national team.
Affiliation with Navas
Reporter: Was Jesus Navas already a star when you started playing soccer?
Fabian Ruiz: The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was unforgettable. I was a teenager at the time, still playing soccer in our village park with two stones as goalposts. Of course I remember Navas, he was a hero to all of us and it was one of my greatest prides to play with him afterwards.
Responsibility of the national team
Reporter: Did you have to take on more responsibility after Rodney's injury?
Fabian Ruiz: There are players in the national team who have been playing in this position for many years, as is the case with Subbimendi and Ales Garcia, who are very good. I would like to take this opportunity to send my best wishes to Rodri and Carvajal for a speedy recovery. My goal is to be useful to the team and do my part to keep the victories coming.
Thoughts on injuries
Reporter: What are your thoughts on the string of serious injuries that have plagued the national team?
Fabian Ruiz: It's been a string of bad luck. These injuries are bad, and a lot of times they're the result of movements that players can't control. It's a shame because these accidents can keep you off the field for long periods of time. Let's hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.
Experience of playing soccer abroad
Reporter: Players who leave Spain at an early age to play abroad, their compatriots often don't realize how good they are until they see them perform in the World Cup or Europa League ......
Fabian Ruiz: I'm happy about people being happy for me and praising me because it means I did well. The Europa League did help me, but it's true that if you play in another league, people in your home country will rarely see you play. That's why every time I come here with the national team I want to do my best and show my compatriots that we're trying to help them.
Fakes and Champions
Reporter: Are you remembered for that fake against Germany that, as Morata said, made all three opponents "go for a smoke"?
Fabian Ruiz: Indeed, I understand that people remember me more for that fake than for the Europa League win! It was a successful trick and it was great. I have pictures of that fake at home, but it's just to remind me that what's really more important is winning the title.
World Cup Outlook
Reporter: Do you have hopes for this team for the World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico in two years?
Fabian Ruiz: It's better to relax because the World Cup is still far away. At the moment we face the challenge of the UEFA Europa League, but we want to keep our title as defending champions. Winning the World Cup is a huge challenge, but we will go there with ambition.
Qatar World Cup regrets
Reporter: You didn't make the Qatar World Cup squad, have you spoken to Luis Enrique about this?
Fabian Ruiz: The World Cup is not only a challenge for me but also a dream. I really want to play in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but you have to respect the coach's decision. I never asked Luis Enrique why he didn't take me to that World Cup, coaches have to make their decisions. Now he is my coach at Paris Saint-Germain and I don't have a bad relationship with him.
National team cap
Reporter: What is the ceiling for this national team?
Fabian Ruiz: We will go to the World Cup with ambition, we have a great team. Hopefully we can win back-to-back titles and make history.
The trust of Louis de la Fuente
Reporter: Luis de la Fuente has been drafting you, you've been a fixture since the National Youth League ......
Fabian Ruiz: I'm very grateful for that, but I also have a responsibility to repay his trust on the pitch. Now he's asking me to score more goals and encouraging me to shoot more from outside the box. Scoring goals is not one of the characteristics of the way I play, but I have been fortunate enough to score in the last few games.
Mbappe's departure
Reporter: You were teammates with Mbappe at Paris Saint-Germain, what does it mean to lose him?
Fabian Ruiz: It's a big loss because he was one of the best players in the world. His presence is also important for the locker room because he was a great guy and a good teammate. But in soccer, it's normal for players to come and go.
Mbappe's future
Reporter: Do you think Mbappe can achieve the 50 goals he has set for himself at Real Madrid?
Fabian Ruiz: He has the ability and the condition to do it. He's one of the best players in the world and obviously he always scores goals. I don't think there's any doubt he can do it.
Toni Kroos' role as a role model
Reporter: Is Toni Kroos one of your role models?
Fabian Ruiz: He's certainly a role model for me, and for any other midfielder. We all know what Kroos has achieved, his touch is exceptional and has had a major impact on Real Madrid's success over the last few years.
Golden Globes Attitude
Reporter: It's surprising that you, one of the top performers in the Europa League, are not on the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or.
Fabian Ruiz: I will continue to try to make that list, but it's not something that's in the back of my mind. I'm looking forward to improving and growing as a soccer player. The Ballon d'Or is an individual award, whereas I think soccer is more of a collective, team-level thing.
