‘La Liga is the strongest league in the world’
The Croatia international says surprise recent results for Luis Enrique’s side and Real Madrid show how tough the competition is this season and proves there are no easy games
La Liga is the strongest league in the world according to Sporting Gijon striker Duje Cop who says newly-promoted Alaves’ recent defeat of Barcelona proves the quality of the Spanish top flight.
Atletico Madrid currently lead the way in Spain with reigning champions Barcelona down in fourth having already suffered two defeat to Alaves and Celta Vigo.
Rivals Real Madrid, meanwhile, are on a run of three consecutive draws in La Liga and Cop, who is currently on loan at Sporting Gijon, says it is a tough competition.
“La Liga is the strongest league in the world, now I am even more convinced in that. There are no easy games, every match is open, and the quality of football is really high,”
“You have the new promoted team [Alaves] beating Barcelona away, another promoted [Leganes] drew with Atletico and Real also lost a lot of points.”
Cop also pointed to the success enjoyed by Spanish teams in European competition as evidence, with Real Madrid and Barcelona having won the Champions League for the last three years while Sevilla have won the Europa League for the last three seasons.
“And in Europe… in the past 10 years there had been more Champions League finals including both Spanish teams than those without Spanish teams!” he added.
“And Sevilla subscribed to winning the Europa League. And the majority of the national team, that has been dominant force for over a decade, plays in domestic clubs.”
Sporting Gijon meanwhile are on a three game unbeaten run and Cop say he is happy with his form so far this season.
“Yes, I had a great start in Gijon, although I feel sorry we don’t have more points,” he added.
“We couldn’t count on those against Barcelona or Atletico, but against Celta and Deportivo we were unlucky to lose, we deserved more from those matches.
“I am doing very good, everyone is happy with my performances, I scored three goals, created one, play regularly and we have the quality to stay in Primera.”
