INTERVIEW: Ricardo Quaresma
By dixon9
March 27 2009
Ricardo Quaresma has not had a great opportunity to demonstrate for Chelsea what the football world knows he is capable of – up until now fitness after an erratic time at Inter has been a problem, nevertheless, there are many that hope he remains at the Bridge next season.
Confident again
'When I was at Inter I wasn't feeling very confident, I wasn't playing well and wasn't happy. I already feel more confident here at Chelsea, it has brought the joy back for me, which I didn't have at Inter.
'I lost my will and motivation, and that is important for a footballer, to be happy, which I am now because I got my confidence back,'
'That's what makes me feel more confident and want to improve more and I don't have any fear, everything thrown at me I am fine with it.'
Scolari sacking
'Of course it was difficult, because things were not going well for me at Inter so I came over here and then faced this change,'
'In any case it is very difficult in this situation in a club, but for me it was a little more because I didn't know what was going to happen. I am very grateful that Mr. Scolari brought me here and gave me the opportunity to come to Chelsea. The club is still helping me now and I am still here. I am always going to be very grateful to Mr. Scolari for giving me the opportunity, but these things happen,'
'All the players have to do is respect the manager, whoever comes or goes, and keep doing our jobs.'
Funny guy and childhood friend
'It is always nice to meet fellow countrymen in a club when you go abroad because you know each other and speak the language together. Bosingwa has been very helpful because we have known each other from a very early age,'
'We were together in the youth categories in our clubs, he was at Boavista, I was at Sporting. Then we played together four years at Porto. He is a very funny guy and we spend a lot of time together. He is the person I spend most of my time with here. It is important for me to have all these people, so many here at Chelsea, who can speak my own language and help me.'
International career on hold?
'It is a bit different because obviously with some players away on international duty it is quiet, but nevertheless we keep working hard because we have to keep going. Tomorrow we have a friendly game which is not important but for us but it is good because we just want to be playing football. And of course it helps with our conditioning and fitness for the very important games that are ahead.'
'At the moment I am playing well, being given the opportunity to play and working hard, so I am keeping myself motivated,'
'Whenever the national team wants me they know where to find me and I will be in a nice condition.'
Differences with the Premier League
'If we are going to speak about the differences we could be here all day long,'
'Every championship and league in the world has its own mentality and way of playing.
'Everybody likes to play in the English league, I think this is because it's a very competitive league; players come here and learn a lot. They get stronger, physically and psychologically, they have to in order to play here, and you have to keep this level high.
'Everybody wants to play here, it helps you improve and become stronger. This can only help in any other league you play in, and it gives more motivation because the rhythm is so frenetic, you have to be at your best.'
'I believe it is normal when a league is stronger than the others you have most of the important teams in the Champions League, the most important competition for clubs,
' I believe the rhythm in this country is very high, very fast, and we other nations have to keep up with them.
The future
In the two months since Quaresma arrived on loan from Inter he has made an impact when brought on. Against Hull City, Portsmouth and Spurs he did make a difference and has shown glimpses of the type of spark Chelsea has been lacking. Indeed, it’s also a great shame that he is cup-tied for the Champions League.
Let’s hope the club makes the right decision in the summer and flops the cheque-book out on Moratti´s table.
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