Swansea City v Valencia: Pablo Hernandez prepares for emotional reunion with former team in Europa League Their days of challenging Spain's big two for major honours appear to be well in the past. And it was this impending truth that lay behind Pablo's decision to try his luck in a new and strange country. "The last three or four years, the Spanish league, it's boring," Pablo says. Because for the title, only Madrid and Barcelona compete. For the rest of the teams, it's very difficult. There is a big difference between those two teams and the rest. In England, five, six, seven teams can win. Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla, Malaga, they can play for third or fourth place. But never first or second. It's impossible, no? Atletico, currently sandwiched between Barcelona and Real in second place, have surprised many observers this season. But the shifting sands of Spanish football suggest that over the longer term, they are fighting a losing battle. The Spain squad that won the World Cup in 2010 comprised eight players from La Liga clubs other than Barcelona or Real Madrid. The Confederations Cup squad this summer contained just one: Sevilla's Jesus Navas, who joined Manchester City after the tournament. For a talented Spanish player, your options for career advancement are increasingly being narrowed to Barcelona, Real Madrid, or the airport. "In Spain, this is not a good moment in the economy," Pablo says. The Spanish league has problems with the finances of its clubs, with the television. This helps Spanish players go to other leagues. This year, the Premier League has 30 or 40 Spanish players. I think now, the Premier League is the best in the world. In Spain, people also think this. Four or five years ago? The Spanish league was better. But in the last years, the Premier League is the best. Not only the teams and the games, but the stadiums, the fans, the tickets, television. In Spain, games are more tactical. Sometimes, when teams play away, they close their defence. No attack. Sometimes you will see a game where there are only one or two chances. In England, the game never stops. Always chances, always attack. It's more for the fans, for the people. It's pleasing football. And yet few sides in recent times have been as pleasing or as attacking as the Valencia side that Pablo broke into in 2008, after spending a season at Getafe under his current manager Michael Laudrup. What a team they were: David Villa up front, Juan Mata and David Silva supplying him, Pablo and Joaquin cutting in from the wings, Raul Albiol and Jordi Alba bringing the ball out of defence to a midfield of Ever Banega and David Albelda. Now, only Banega remains. What was their secret? "The most important thing is that the club and the manager have confidence in young players," Pablo says. Sometimes young players play one or two games in the first team, they don't play well, the manager loses patience, and they don't play any more. What is most important for a young player is confidence. They need time. He does not become a big player in one day or one game. It happens slowly. The time for adaptation is long. Confidence is a word that pops up again and again in Pablo's speech. For him, football is played most effectively when a team knows and trusts each other. An example: against West Brom in September, Michu found himself through on goal after a clever run. Despite being well placed to shoot, he saw Pablo unmarked eight yards out and unselfishly squared the ball to him to put away. Minutes earlier, Pablo had put a good chance against the crossbar. Yet Michu still trusted. Confidence. "Sometimes, it's not easy," Pablo says. You never have all players playing well in all games. Some days, two or three players don't have the best game. But then it is up to the other players to say: "OK, this is my moment."" And this is Swansea's moment. They can qualify for the knockout stages with a win or a draw tonight. When he sees the row of Valencia shirts lining up in front of him tonight, there will be no regrets: just a certain wistful melancholy. "Life grants good moments, and bad moments too," he says. But at Valencia, there were more good than bad.