Soldado anticipates physical test in England

New Tottenham Hotspur striker Roberto Soldado has admitted he will need to toughen up if he is to prosper amid the breathless pace and physicality of the English Premier League. The 28-year-old signed from Valencia in a club-record £26 million ($40.4 million, 30.4 million euros) deal earlier this month and arrives hoping to score the goals that will take Tottenham back into the Champions League. The Spain international scored on his debut in a 1-1 friendly draw with Espanyol at the weekend, but ahead of Spurs' Premier League opener at Crystal Palace on Sunday, he knows he will have his work cut out in the English top flight. "I think the most important thing is to be in shape," he told AFPTV. "The intensity of the Premier League, it's very different from La Liga and here football is a lot more physical and a lot more difficult. "But I think that's good because it gives a lot of rhythm to the game and I think that can be good for me." Despite the burden of expectation created by his price-tag, Soldado says he has no concerns heading into his debut campaign at White Hart Lane. "I am very happy to have this opportunity, to be able to play for a historical club like Tottenham and I'm really happy because it's a unique opportunity," he said. "I hope I won't disappoint and I will do everything I can to score a lot, which is why they hired me, and be even happier here." Soldado was speaking at a press call to announce Tottenham's new shirt sponsorship deal with Asian insurance firm AIA, whose logo will adorn the club's shirts in the two domestic cup competitions and the Europa League. American technology corporation Hewlett Packard will sponsor Spurs' shirts in the Premier League. Source: AFP