The Spanish wing-back has been in excellent form since his first game back in the Premier League, notching two goals in successive outings either side of the last international break, but he admits he still has room to improve if he wants to help Wolves end the season in the European spots, starting this week at Burnley.
On a big game against the Clarets
“It’s still going well and we’re still in the upper positions in the Premier League table, fighting for the Europa League places.
“Although sometimes we’ve lost some chances to move up the table, we’re still there with a chance. We have played well during the season, and we still have games ahead of us to make it into the Europa League.
“Of course, we need to win against Burnley. We have had chances, but we don’t have time to lose any more games. Our performances are the most important, but we need to win on Sunday so we can keep going. We need the three points to make sure we are still in the fight [for Europe].”
On overcoming two injury-hit seasons
“It was frustrating for me, of course, but it’s normal for players. We know these injuries can happen. All we can do is keep our eyes in front and keep going with this challenge to bring better things in the future.
“I feel good but I’m still not at 100 per cent and I know that every week I can keep improving myself, my technical and my physical. Our manager is new for me and we have some new players, so it’s been a new dynamic for me coming back late.
“I try every week to do my best in every moment and at the moment I feel I’m at about 80 per cent, so I need to keep improving for the next year and start next season with everyone else at 100 per cent.”
On his recovery journey
“I’m really grateful to Rui Fuste who has mainly worked with me one to one every single day. I think I did a good job, but he did a better job than me, so I’m really grateful to him. It wasn’t just this last injury, but he helped me through the last one too.
“It was good for me to work one to one with him because every day he was here and he would always be speaking to me on the phone to make sure I was ok, and he was always there to help not only me but also my family, so I’m very grateful to him.
“Some days you don’t want to come in and do the same [recovery] things. That’s normal. With my injuries, the second one was longer and some days I did feel very frustrated because it’s a very frustrating time, but in this moment, when your wife is there and your kids are there, Rui is there, they help me a lot to get through that moment. They helped me to focus on looking forward and keep going.”
First 99 Wolves games: ⚽️⚽️⚽️
— Wolves (@Wolves) April 4, 2022
Last two Wolves games: ⚽️⚽️
Jonny Otto has become prolific. pic.twitter.com/j8uk2RhFe9
On making a scoring return to the pitch
“I’ve been happy with these goals, but the most important think is the team. Every game is about improving and keep improving, but I’m still happy with these goals.
“I remember my wife asked me, ‘What do you feel when you score?’ There are no words I can use to describe it. Scoring at Molineux, after a big injury, and the people all celebrating and they love me a lot, it’s a special feeling.
“It’s just you and the people celebrating these things and it’s incredible.”
On Wolves’ say in the title battle
“It doesn’t matter to me who wins the Premier League. Maybe I would like Liverpool to win because of Jota as we played with him here, but it doesn’t matter for me, it’s all about Wolves.
“There is just one point between them now, and we’ll be playing both of them. Hopefully it’ll still be close between them when we play the last game in Liverpool as it will be a big atmosphere there for this game.”
