Spain captain Sarabia calm for Czech challenge

According to their captain Pablo Sarabia, Spain are feeling no pressure as they prepare for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship showpiece against the Czech Republic.

Ginés Meléndez's squad have reached their sixth final at this level on the back of three wins and 13 goals yet are meeting a Czech Republic side who have a 100% record in the finals. "The Czechs have a great team and have proved they deserve to be here," Sarabia told UEFA.com ahead of Monday evening's encounter in Chiajna. "They are a very compact side; a tough team who can also score goals. We will have to be alert at all times. Having said that, we are going into the match in confident mood and will obviously be trying to win."

The 19-year-old attacker recently completed a reported €3m transfer from Real Madrid CF to Getafe CF yet before joining up with his new team for pre-season training, he would dearly love to pick up a winners' medal here. "We have worked so hard all year and being here is the reward," he said. "It's a thing of immense pride for us to be in the final and now we're there it's important that we play our own style. There is no pressure on us at all; we are full of expectation."

The tournament's leading assist provider with three, Sarabia has also scored twice himself in Romania, against Belgium and the Republic of Ireland, to add to the four goals he managed in the qualifying phase. Yet instead of concentrating on his own achievements, the attacking midfielder chose to highlight the group effort as the reason for Spain's success thus far, explaining: "I may be captain of the team – which is an honour – but I believe we are all equally important in this set-up."

"The work-rate of our side has been fantastic, as has the support from our coach, and the feelings within the camp are very good," continued Sarabia, who made his UEFA Champions League debut for Madrid last season. "I am left with the memory of the work put in by the entire squad and all of the support that the coach gave us. We now want to enjoy this final game and to play the brand of football that has helped us reach this point."