Willy Hernangómez: "We weren't the strongest in the World Cup either"

In this new Spain,

(Madrid, 1994) has risen, by force, several steps at once.

In performance (top scorer during preparation), in gallons (second captain after

) and, above all, in responsibility.

The center is facing his sixth tournament with the national team and his speech - "we want a medal" - breaks the mold of the general message, although even

has to correct him in public.

Do you still see Spain among the favorites for gold? I think Sergio misunderstood me.

I said that I don't look at other teams, he looks at my team and I worry about how we are doing.

I want Spain to win and I don't care about the rest.

He is going to be a fun European, very competitive, with a high level.

But so was the World Cup.

And we already have the experience that we are not the most talented, the strongest, but we are the ones with the best group and the ones who are going to compete the most.

You can beat anyone in one match. So much unforeseen, so many injuries in a summer that is already changing, does it affect the group? The group remains psyched, united, very strong, above all excited and eager to compete.

In the end, they are occupational hazards.

We started the concentration with 22 because we knew that anything could happen.

Although we don't like it, it motivates us even more. For the first time in your career, do you feel like the leader of the team? All the work I've been doing is to have these moments of responsibility and importance.

I want to prove it, help my team get a medal.

I am happy to feel more responsible and to see how the new generations are arriving.

They see that I have been eight years, Rudy 20... the illusion is still there and that cannot be lost. Has Scariolo asked you to take another step this summer? Scariolo is an incredible coach who demands a lot from me, who wants the best of me .

And even if he asks me for one thing and I do it well, I know that he will continue to ask me for more and better.

For that I am grateful.

We have been together for seven years, he knows me better than any other coach.

He wants the best of me

Now the stars are in other teams, what can Spain surprise? The key is cohesion, the way in which we pay attention to every detail of the game plans that Sergio prepares, to how we execute it on the court.

Every little detail is going to be very important.

The example is the World Cup, we did that perfectly.

Each one knew his role, accepted his role, everyone joined in and we rowed in the same direction.

Success is achieved that way. Will his role be something like that of Marc Gasol in the World Cup? For me, both Marc and Pau have been benchmarks since they were little.

I have always tried to learn from them, imitate them and above all, be a sponge at their side.

And they have dedicated a lot of their time to teach me, to give me advice.

I will always be grateful.

But Marc there is only one,

There is only one Pau and there is only one Willy too. What was your reaction when you found out that Lorenzo Brown was going to be nationalized? I was not surprised that there was a nationalization.

we already had it with

.

In the end, we look for the best option to compete and, above all, so that the group can have a level.

Lorenzo is one of the best players in Europe, he has shown it in recent years.

He is going to help us a lot.How is he adapting?He is a 10 guy.He is a friend, a colleague, a member of the family who integrated from day one with his attitude and the way he trains of the.

I don't know, the truth is that he suits us very well.

He has shown his enthusiasm for being in the national team.

He perfectly could be with his family resting.

And he wants to be with us.

That is to be thanked. Spain always had hesitant starts, but this time being first seems key to crossing the round of 16. What I try to convey to my teammates is that we are focused on the group matches, that we do not relax.

Maybe other years we have started weak and then we have had to tighten or we have gone up.

Now we have to be 100% from the start, not look at who we play against.

Then we'll look at the round of 16.

If the objective is to win the European Championship, it doesn't matter who you face.

How do you deal with the criticism of your lack of prominence in the NBA? I am fulfilling my dream in the best league in the world.

I am going to play my seventh year and few players can say that, few Spaniards.

I'm still excited as the first day.

Playing against the best centers in the world makes him better.

And when I play for the national team here in Europe, you see that I can dominate.

I respect opinions, advice, but I'm not worried about criticism, I focus on my people's comments. How do you manage to be so effective in the few minutes you play? That's because of the enthusiasm and desire to train and play , for loving this sport so much.

It makes you seize the opportunity.

And, above all, it is for the work, for which you do not see, the dedication day and night.

It is true that it is hard, difficult, but I am used to that.

Now there are times like the national team where I have a more important role and I can be prepared.

It's true that I would like to have a bigger role on my team, the Pelicans.

But hey, it's a team sport.

It's time to assume my role, I accept it.

And when the coach says my name, I give 100%.

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