Shomurodov with “Il Corriere dello Sport”
“The two goals? I am happy for me, for the team. But I hope it is only the beginning. We have 10 finals ahead of us and we will fight hard for points in every match. Starting with Monza’: Eldor Shomurodov spoke exclusively to ‘Il Corriere dello Sport’, on newsstands today. The first Uzbek player in Cagliari’s history, the red-blue striker has drawn an initial balance of his experience on the island between emotions and goals.
A TRICKY START
“I can’t say after just one game if the real Eldor Shomurodov is back. It is still too early because it will take continuity. I expected to play more at the beginning of the season, but the fault was mine because I was not ready, especially physically. I arrived with little training, I thought the condition would come with playing, it didn’t work out that way. And when things were starting to get better, the injury arrived.
STRAIGHT TO THE HEART
“When things don’t go well you have to try to change your mindset immediately and think positive. Being out was a pain, I was sorry I couldn’t help the team in a difficult moment. But I spoke with the director and the coach, who gave me confidence and told me that everyone was waiting for me. We have a very united group and my teammates have always been close to me. Coach Ranieri was able to lift my spirits, he touched the right chords to stimulate me and then lead me to do my best’.
CAGLIARI AND ITS PEOPLE
‘Of course I miss my home, my friends and relatives. But high-level football is played here and Cagliari is a beautiful city, with a nice climate and welcoming but not intrusive people. I realised right away that there is a great bond here for these colours. The fans are proud to be able to defend them. I am a normal guy, who loves his family and his passion for football. I enjoy these things with my wife and two children, with some walks by the sea and good fish, which we don’t eat so much in Uzbekistan because we prefer lamb.
TOWARDS THE GOAL
“In football, if you don’t fight, you achieve nothing. Here you have to defend the colours of an entire region. Another goal of mine? The goal is to help the team to leave the lower part of the standings. Cagliari’s salvation comes first”.
