Gordon: I'm not at my best yet, maybe I can be a bit more selfish sometimes

Ahead of Barcelona's Champions League match against Aston Villa, forward Gordon spoke at a press conference about his adaptation to Barcelona and how he feels about facing an English team again.

You've scored 3 goals and provided 5 assists this season. How do you assess your adaptation, and how do you plan to improve?

Out of 10? I'd say 7 or 7.5. I've had a pretty good start, considering I moved to a new country and a new team, which is a huge change for me and my family. But as I've said many times before, I can do better, and I need some time to adapt. Once I'm fully adapted, you'll see the best of me. I'm not at my best yet.

What do you think of your opponent, Aston Villa?

Villa are a very good team. I've played against them several times, with mixed results. They have an excellent coach. I think Emery is one of the best coaches in football today, and he has achieved success many times in his career. They also have a group of excellent players. I know they're in good form, so it will be a tough match. Whatever the game situation, they are always very focused and ready to take any opportunity, so it will be a huge challenge, and we are very excited about it.

How do you handle the competition with Adeyemi? Who has helped you the most on and off the field?

Honestly, I only need to compete with myself. I don't look at others; their success or failure doesn't affect me. That's a narrow-minded way of thinking, and I'm not that kind of person. I only care about how I can do my best. Whether I play 90 minutes or 5 minutes, I give my best. As for adapting, I think we all feel the warmth of the dressing room. Everyone is friendly, and there's a great culture here, full of energy because everyone is young. I'm very happy to be part of it.

Who has helped me the most? I would say the English speakers, like Eric. I can mostly follow their conversations, but it's nice to have someone translate when I can't.

How do you prepare mentally for games? What was the hardest part of adjusting your mindset when moving from Newcastle United to a big club like Barcelona?

Maintaining consistency on the football field is probably the biggest challenge, and I would say that's true in every profession. It's hard to always be at your best, but I'm working on it. Everyone deals with it differently. My approach is to keep a good routine, read books, and push myself to give everything in training. These methods work well for me.

The challenges of playing for Barcelona are different from those at my previous clubs. At Everton, I had to fight for survival for two or three years, which was very difficult. At Newcastle United, we were competing for Champions League qualification. Now at Barcelona, we are fighting for every title. So far, I've played for three different clubs, and I've been happy at each one because those experiences helped me grow. But competing for every title is definitely the most enjoyable. People might think it creates more pressure, but this pressure is definitely better than fighting relegation or competing for Champions League qualification. I want to win every trophy and be the best, and this club gives me that opportunity.

In what areas do you demand more of yourself?

What I demand of myself is always the same: to score goals, provide assists, and be someone who can change the game at any time. I believe the best players in history do this, so that's what I strive for. I think I can do more. Maybe sometimes I can be a bit more selfish, because I pass too much at times. Perhaps I could dribble and shoot more. I definitely need to score goals. Football is about goals and wins. I'm here to win trophies, and scoring as many goals as possible is the best way to help the team.

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid both defeated Barcelona. Are they on a higher level than Barcelona?

No, I don't see it that way. We accept the defeats. These were the two strongest teams we've faced so far this season, and we lost to both, but I don't think they are necessarily better than us. We are very good and capable of beating any opponent.

For the Paris Saint-Germain game, you have to consider how both teams prepared. After playing Manchester City in the previous round, they rotated almost their entire starting lineup in the league over the weekend, while we didn't have that luxury. So we looked very tired in the game. They had a physical advantage, but that's okay. We take responsibility for the loss.

The Real Madrid match was the big game we wanted to win the most, and we should have won it because we were the better side. We had more possession and better chances, but we were a little short of our best, which led to us conceding two poor goals. Against opponents of this caliber, such mistakes are enough to punish us. We learn from these defeats, but I'm really looking forward to playing these teams again to prove our strength.

You mentioned that the pressure of competing for titles is better than fighting against relegation or for Champions League spots. Can you talk about how you've adapted to these new demands and to the abilities of your new teammates? You once said that Pedri understands your runs.

It's quite difficult, not because of the teammates, but mainly because I have to adapt to the team, the new environment, and the culture. I'm still getting used to the styles of some teammates, like what kind of passes they play. I adjust my runs depending on the teammate, because I generally have a sense of whether they'll pass when they have the ball. This takes time. I've only been here for two or three months, which isn't enough time to fully get used to their styles. I think I've adapted well so far, but I can do better. Just give me more time, and I definitely can.

What has surprised you most about the city of Barcelona and this club? What was the biggest culture shock?

Everything is completely different from England. This is my first time living abroad, and I think adapting to daily life in another country is the hardest part. But I'm lucky, because Spain is a beautiful country, with good weather and delicious food. Most importantly, the people here are really friendly. I think what surprised me most is that the team I play for has so many incredible players who could be very arrogant, but they're not. Instead, they are friendly, welcoming, and humble. I think the best thing is that so many players are so talented yet so humble.

How do you view your relationship with the fans?

I love the atmosphere at Camp Nou. As players, we come and go; there will always be new players to replace us, just as I replaced the players who were here before. That's normal, that's life. But the relationships, memories, and feelings the fans give you won't fade with time. In these two or three months, Barcelona fans have made my family and me very happy, which I didn't expect. I don't think that's common, but believe me, they've made me a very happy person. Their support and love make me want to do more for the club and for them. I love playing at home, I love going to Camp Nou, and every time I step onto the pitch, I try to interact with the fans as much as possible, because they give me immense support, and I hope to repay them with goals and many trophies.

You shone in the World Cup match against Mexico. Have you had any comparable performances in Barcelona matches? Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said he has a photo and wants you to sign it for his grandson.

(During the match between England and Mexico, Javier Aguirre had a confrontation with Gordon and told him "f*** off")

(Laughs) I remember it clearly. That game is still one of the best of my career, considering the immense pressure we were under. The atmosphere was incredibly heated. When Mexico's anthem played, the noise from the stands was probably the loudest I've ever heard, so I'll never forget it. I remember we won the game with 10 men, and I won a penalty when we were a man down. I was very excited, and I'll never forget it. I hope to have similar experiences here, for example, when we win trophies. Maybe there will be even better experiences in the future than that game, but so far, that game is definitely number one in my career.

Javier Aguirre... haha, that clip went viral. People just love that kind of thing, and it's quite interesting. Actually, there was no malice between us at the time, just a momentary clash. That game was so tense and high-pressure that both sides were on edge. He made a joke on the sidelines, as if we were playing in a park, and it was really funny. He seems like a good person, and he can ask me to sign anything.

You said during the break that people in England don't appreciate your style. Tomorrow, against an English team, are you more motivated to prove them wrong?

I didn't mean that people's opinions of me were wrong. They just never saw me play in a system that allowed my strengths to flourish. I've been at three clubs with different styles and succeeded at all three, which perhaps reflects the team spirit and football intelligence I mentioned. I'm not saying people's evaluations are wrong, or that they have a negative view of me; that's not what I mean. I'm just saying they hadn't seen me play in this kind of system before, and now they might appreciate my style more, which is normal.

English teams are very physical. I've played against Villa, and they are one of the most physical teams in the Premier League, and they have excellent players. I'm always motivated. Some things might motivate me more, but I try to stay emotionally stable, so playing against an English team doesn't make me any more motivated.

You mentioned that you improve yourself by reading. Can you share what kind of books you read?

I've loved reading since I was a child, and I've mentioned it many times before. I read various types of books, mainly non-fiction, and some books that help with real life. Reading helps me stay calm and emotionally stable, and it also lets me pause and rest. In today's world, if you keep scrolling through TikTok and Instagram or watching movies, your mind gets cluttered, and I suffer from this. If I spend too much time on my phone or watching TV, my mind isn't clear. So reading and meditating, or taking walks and connecting with nature, really help me calm down, focus on the present, enjoy real life, and be more grateful for everything I have. The dopamine from scrolling through your phone and watching videos is addictive, and you end up neglecting what's truly important.