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Spain play England on Monday evening in the Europa League, and this means the Spanish media have spent days wheeling out anyone with connections to football in both the countries.

It was perhaps inevitable that Aitor Karanka would be one of those approached for his thoughts, given the Nottingham Forest manager is experienced in the football of both countries and a really nice guy.

Marca asked Karanka what it’s like to manage Nottingham Forest, a club well known in Spain because of the European success: “It motivates me very much to be in a team with so much history and that has won two European Cups. The club plans to be in the Premier League and that is a very exciting challenge.”

Despite that, the Spanish newspaper inevitably asked Karanka about potentially returning to La Liga, and he gave an answer which will have pleased Marca, but also provided some comfort to Nottingham Forest fans who don’t want their manager to go anywhere: “You never know, we’re very good in England now, so for the moment I only think about being in Nottingham Forest for many years and meeting the challenges we have here.”

Asked for his insight on the English team, ahead of their match against Spain, Karanka was generous with his praise: “You always have to be careful with this England because not only do they come from making a great World Cup, but they have been champions of the U20 World Cup, of the U19 and U17 Europeans… I know the people of the English Federation and they are working very well.”

Aitor Karanka’s Nottingham Forest are fifth in the Championship and twelve matches so far.

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