Emery tips Alba to shine

8 agosto 2012 02:12

Spartak Moscow coach Unai Emery has backed his former charge Jordi Alba to make a big impact with new club Barcelona.

Emery and Alba worked together at Valencia, where they achieved a third-placed finish last season to secure Champions League football for another campaign at Estadio Mestalla.

Both player and coach moved on in the off season, with Alba, a former Barca youth player, sealing a move to Camp Nou.

Emery meanwhile has sought a fresh challenge with Spartak in the Russian capital.

Alba, 23, has enjoyed a sensational rise to prominence in recent months, topping off an impressive Euro 2012 by scoring in Spain's 4-0 final win over Italy.

Big things are now expected, and Emery believes his former player has the physical and mental attributes to make an impact at Barca.

"He is a player trained, prepared, hungry for success and, above all, humble. With all that, he will succeed. I'm sure," Emery told El Mundo Deportivo.

"At first the boy did not want to play left-back, but then he just wanted to play in that position. He is a much-travelled player, with speed and surprise.

"The play that best defines him was the goal he scored in the (Euro 2012) final against Italy."

Alba's packed summer schedule saw him follow his Euro 2012 heroics with a less successful showing with Spain's Olympic side, who crashed out in the tournament's group stages.

There are concerns the young talent may suffer from burn-out, but Emery does not believe Alba's hectic schedule will be a problem.

"I think not," he said when asked about potential exhaustion.

"Jordi has strength and youth. I have also a player with Brazil, Romulus, who of course I would like to be already working with us, but (the players) have an understandable enthusiasm for the Games," Emery said.