Sunday 10 September 2017 09:32, UK
Spain and new Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino says his outlook on life has changed dramatically since the Borussia Dortmund bus was targeted in bomb attack.
The Premier League side made a surprise move by acquiring the services of Merino on a season-long loan from Dortmund in August.
The Spain U21 international impressed for his country as they made the final of last summer's European Championships in Poland where they lost to Germany.
Merino's off-pitch outlook, however, has taken on a fresh perspective since the bomb attack on the Dortmund team bus in April prior to a Champions League match against Monaco
The Pamplona-born midfielder was sitting next to Marc Bartra when the explosion took place, and his team-mate suffered injuries to his wrist, with Merino accompanying his compatriot to hospital after the event.
Merino told Sky Sports News: "The mentality is different in the fact that you see everything with different eyes. You try to enjoy every moment, be near the people that you love and enjoy it as anytime something like that happens, you do not expect it.
"You think that maybe it is not going to happen to you, it is far away, but you never know. So enjoy your life near your loving people and just enjoy it."
But when it comes to football matters, Merino says he still sees things the same on the field of play.
"The football I see exactly the same," he said. "They say enjoy doing what you love, which is playing football in my case, but my mentality inside the pitch is the same. My mentality outside the pitch about my career is the same.
"The only change is the way you live and the way you love your people."
Swansea host Newcastle in the Nissan Super Sunday match on September 10. Follow all the build-up and match action live on Sky Sports Premier League from 3pm
