🎙️INTERVIEW | Zé Pedro with “L’Unione Sarda”

Rossoblù defender Zé Pedro spoke exclusively to daily newspaper L’Unione Sarda, published today. Below is an excerpt from his interview:

A NEW HOME
“I started out in the youth academy at Guimarães, the club from my hometown, and eventually made it to the Porto first team. In between, I spent several seasons in the lower divisions. With Porto, I also played in the Europa League. This is my first real experience away from home. But the fans, my teammates and the staff made me feel at home from day one, and I can say that I have settled in completely. The Club has also always been very attentive, asking me if I need anything. That means a lot to me; the human side is just as important as the sporting side. This is my second season on the island, and I hope there will be many more. The Club is solid and serious, and I have an excellent relationship with President Giulini and the directors.”

THE COACH AT THE HELM OF A SOLID GROUP
“I am grateful to the Coach for the confidence he has shown in me. We share the same work ethic and we both believe that results come through sacrifice and improvement. I always try to develop as a player and he is helping me along the way: he is approachable and open to dialogue, while at the same time firm in his decisions. He is an added value for this team. The group is certainly very close-knit. We showed that when faced with the off-the-pitch situations that occurred towards the end of the training camp and after the start of the season, but also on the pitch, where we have not given anyone an easy ride. Above all, we have a healthy environment. We are friends both on and off the pitch and that, besides being important for many other reasons, helps us a great deal in overcoming even the most difficult situations.”

THE TEAM’S CURRENT FORM
“So far, we have done much more than everyone expected from us. It is not easy to maintain these levels, but in any case, everything we achieve is the result of hard work. We are focused on moving forward, step by step. Improving day by day. If it is right for the fans to dream, it is equally important for Cagliari to always keep the season’s objective in mind. Then the course of the season will determine where we end up. We all want to improve, but we are keeping our feet firmly on the ground. We are realistic, while hoping to achieve the best possible results for the Club and our fans.”

CAGLIARI AND ITS PEOPLE
“The city has a lot to offer, but I have always led a fairly quiet life, as an athlete. I spend my free time at home, watching films and doing some reading. When I’m not at the training ground, I go for long walks with my fiancée Francisca, who also feels very comfortable here, and our two dachshunds, Daisy and Cacau. We also spend time with some friends from Cagliari; that is only natural after having lived here for quite some time. Before coming to Sardinia, I had heard about its beautiful sea and the Costa Smeralda. I knew the team and I knew that there is a strong sense of identity here, a great passion, and that it represents an entire community. The Unipol Domus gives you a huge boost; it is a difficult ground for any opponent who comes to play here.”