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During Garry Monk’s first transfer window at Leeds United in 2016, he signed Pablo Hernández from Qatari club Al-Arabi SC and the deal was made permanent in January 2017.

The 33-year-old played along with Monk when the two were at Swansea City and since making his move to Elland Road permanent, the winger has signed several contracts and his current deal runs down in 2020.

Hernandez gave an interview to Spanish newspaper AS and explained in detail that his urge to compete convinced him to return to England and this is why he agreed to join the Championship side two-and-a-half years back.

“Time passes very fast. Above all is the ambition to perform and compete. That’s what has brought me back to England. I had a very good personal experience in Qatar and Dubai,” he explained.

“I felt that I had the itch to compete. So I went back to Rayo [Vallecano on loan] and then said ‘yes’ to Leeds, where I was reunited with a former Swansea teammate. [Monk].”

This season, the ex-La Liga attacker has been in fine form under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa and has scored seven goals and registered 10 assists in 21 league appearances.

He shared that he’s thoroughly enjoying his time at Leeds after having adapted to his life in England. 

“I am very much enjoying it. Now I feel adapted. The key is to mentally settle yourself, to assume that it is another culture, another football,” Hernandez added.

When asked adapting in what way, he said: “In all ways. Language, way of being, thinking, other than football. Everything is more intense.”