|
ความคิดเห็นที่ 16 |
THE THURSDAY INTERVIEW: JULIANO BELLETTI
It will have been with some surprise that fans following Chelsea recently have been singing the name of Juliano Belletti.
Traditionally a right-back, the Brazilian international lost his place with the arrival of José Bosingwa this summer, and has had to fight hard to come back into contention.
Now given his chance in an unexpected midfield role, Belletti has benefited from injuries to make himself a key member of the squad again, adding goals to his high work rate and technical play.
It looked like a risk when Luiz Felipe Scolari named his side against Tottenham at the end of August, with the former Barcelona man lined up in the holding role in midfield. Unbeknownst to supporters, and the British press, Belletti has more than a little experience in the role.
He takes us back to the start of his career with Brazilian side Cruzeiro, and explains why we shouldn't be so surprised to see him in the middle.
'It is not a surprise for me, I started in this position when I started as a player in 1992, and my first game in the first team at Cruzeiro in 1994 was in this position, playing in central midfield like Mikel,' he begins.
'Then, my first international game for Brazil was in this position in 1995 with Mario Zagallo, a friendly against Argentina, so I played in this position for six years, for Sao Paolo, Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro, and Mr Scolari knows this.'
As his performances of late have shown, it is a role that carries no fear for the 32-year-old.
'I feel comfortable in this position, and importantly I play with the best players in the world in this position, like Frank Lampard, Deco, Mikel,' he continues. 'These guys make it simple for me.'
It certainly seems that way, and a strong understanding has already been struck up, no doubt helped by the comfortable grasp of English held by both Belletti and Deco.
When though, did he convert from midfielder to full-back, and how did it happen?
Without hesitation, he recalls: 'In 2000. In 1999 I was with Atletico Mineiro and scored a lot of goals from midfield, I won the best midfielder award in the Brazilian league in 1999, but when I went back to Sao Paolo from loan the coach needed a right-back.
'In the first game of the season I said to him if you need a right-back I can play there to help you, and he said "Yes, yes okay". The first game we won, and our two goals were crosses from me. So I played five games like a right-back, back to midfield, and then talked to my coach and for the team, for that year, I played right-back.'
The flank then became home, as his attacking style brought the attention of Scolari in the national team, and he was called up for the 2002 World Cup, earning a winners' medal still fondly cherished.
A move to Villarreal followed, and then subsequently Barcelona and a Champions League winning goal before arriving at Stamford Bridge in August 2007.
Early demonstration of his goalscoring abilities came at Wigan, and was followed by a Goal of the Season against Tottenham in January.
Upon receiving that award in May, he said: ''I play in defence so I am never thinking about winning something like this. It is a good sensation and I am happy.
'I tried to shoot from the outside of the box on this occasion because nobody from the opposition came to me. I had time to prepare my body and shoot because I saw what is possible.
'The fans don't like Tottenham a lot so it is good.'
Transformed as a midfielder he found the net against Spurs again on his return to the side, before Saturday's netbuster at Middlesbrough - a simply unstoppable drive into the top corner from 30 yards - well worth seeing on Chelsea Plus.
Asked whether that is as good as he has scored, he responds with a laugh before somewhat sheepishly adding: 'When I was in Brazil I tried to shoot a lot from outside the area. I remember I scored a lot of goals from this position. Now, Scolari always says in training, shoot, shoot, try to shoot, and sometimes it works. It is not always a goal, but I will keep trying,'
Sat nearby in the canteen at Cobham, assistant first team coach Ray Wilkins and kit man Mick Roberts bring up the topic of the new song adopted by fans for him.
It is a simple ditty, with the words 'Juliano Belletti' sung to the tune of the White Stripes' 'Seven Nation Army'. It hasn't gone unnoticed on the field.
Just to check he is on the same wavelength, Belletti cautiously sings the song, and gets it spot on.
'This started at Stoke I think, it was the first time I listened,' he smiles. 'For me it is a big surprise because I played in Barcelona and don't remember a song for me, or at Villarreal. Atletico Mineiro yes, Cruzeiro, Sao Paolo no, so it is something different.
'In my position, mainly as a defender, it doesn't happen often, we don't have many songs. But if it is anything it is because the fans are enjoying my football and work on the pitch so it is very good, very good.'
The pride is evident as the smile grows bigger across his face, clearly he is enjoying his football and life in general at the moment.
He is keen to put something back though, and with the help of his brother, has set up a footballing Academy in his hometown of Cascavel, in the south of Brazil.
'My city has a little team, and two years ago we tried to help, my brother and I. He knows about football, and has some experience speaking with the Sao Paolo directors and coaches,' he explains.
'We decided to make our team, the Football Club Cascavel. Now this team is just for the under 17s and under 18s, not professional. It is just to help the kids in our city and we played some friendlies against the big teams, Sao Paolo, Palmeiras, so they can see our players and maybe sign them, like an Academy. It is not about money, just to help these kids.'
It is quite feasible that should the Academy take off, one of Belletti's protégés could follow him to Stamford Bridge, boosting the number of Brazilians on the books still further.
For now though, Belletti is just pleased to be here himself, working under the man he calls 'a father figure', and you can guarantee that on the pitch, when the crowd urge him forward, he can be relied upon to take responsibility and try his luck.
The chances are that if he does, there will be a few more Goal of the Season contenders before the campaign is out.
By Andy Jones
http://www.chelseafc.com/news/the-thursday-interview-juliano-belletti-20081023_2243332_1429872
ยิ้มอย่างหวานเลยรูปนี้ v v v
จากคุณ |
:
s_manavvan
|
เขียนเมื่อ |
:
3 ส.ค. 52 10:11:59
|
|
|
|
|