How Vini Souza turned around his Sheffield United career

The Star, Sheffield

Transcript

00:00It's a different league and it's a different environment to him.

00:04So, you know, maybe with a few of the older players gone,

00:08that character and that personality might have been able to grow,

00:12which he definitely has.

00:13He's a real popular guy amongst the boys.

00:16As I said, you know, pre-season he's been fabulous.

00:20I thought his performance first day at Preston was all over the place.

00:24Not in terms of all over the place in a poor way.

00:27He was all over the place.

00:29I'm telling him to calm down and the same with the QPR game.

00:33You know, he broke up a tackle for our first goal Saturday at Norwich,

00:42flying into tackles, you know, getting around the park and he's a good footballer.

00:47So his personality is really good and he's a good player.

00:50He's a really good player.

00:51So, yeah, listen, the levels are not of the levels of the Premier League,

00:56but we're in this division and he's a massive player for us,

01:00not just on the pitch, but off it as well.

01:02So you've seen him sort of grow as an individual as well as a footballer?

01:05Yeah, yeah, we've allowed him that.

01:07You know, I think you've worked with me long enough, James.

01:11You understand what our relationship is like with players and whatever we want to give them,

01:15you know, let them have the head and let them show what their personality

01:21and character is around the place.

01:23And he's certainly shown that.

01:28And I've got to say, I think the supporters have been amazing towards him

01:32because there was, at that period, you know, the old chucking your arms up in the air

01:39and this, that and the other.

01:40I've got to say, that might be a little bit of a cultural thing as well

01:43that happens on the continent a little bit more.

01:45I still don't like it.

01:46We don't like it and we've talked about it.

01:48But all you can say is what he's come back like from a physical point of view,

01:51pre-season, what his performance has been like in the pre-season games,

01:55what his attitude to training has been like and, most importantly,

01:58what his attitude to the game has been like.

02:00I would say, arguably, over the three games, he's been our best player.

02:04I think Blaster's been up there as well.

02:06But the two midfield players have been outstanding.

02:08They're going to be really key and crucial for our progression this season.

02:14I guess that condition that you've said there,

02:17he came back to pre-season as well, is quite telling, isn't it?

02:20Because if you weren't committed, you'd probably come back...

02:23Yeah, he could have come back like Tubby Scoff a lot,

02:26but he would have had to pay a big fine, so he didn't.

02:32So, he's come back in decent shape and he likes to get his top off as well.

02:37So, obviously, he puts us all to shame, really.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended