VIDEO | One-to-one with Harry Winks

English midfielder Harry Winks, one of Cagliari’s new signings, sat down with the Club’s official channels for an exclusive video interview, discussing his career, expectations and ambitions for the new season in the Rossoblù shirt, bringing with him a wealth of experience and quality. Here is what he had to say:

ARRIVING AT CAGLIARI
“When Jacopo Fazzini and I arrived at the airport, there were so many fans waiting for us. It was wonderful to receive such a warm welcome. I’m really happy to be joining this Club, a great Serie A club with an excellent coach. The opportunity to come here and play was something that genuinely excited me.”

ITALIAN FOOTBALL
“When I played in Italy four years ago, I really enjoyed the culture, the lifestyle, the football and the tactical side of the game. It’s very different from England. Here, football is more about thinking, about approaching matches in a different way. That’s something I really like, and coming back here to learn new styles of play and new ways of approaching the game is incredibly stimulating. Settling in with my new teammates and getting to know the different cultures across Italy is something I really enjoy, and I hope to keep doing that. I love playing here.”

MY STYLE OF PLAY
“I’m the kind of player who always wants the ball. One of my biggest strengths is making myself available for my teammates, showing for the pass and always looking to get on the ball. That applies even in the toughest situations, when you’re facing an aggressive opponent. I’ve loved football since I was a child, and I enjoy studying tactics. Now I’ve arrived in Italy and started working with a new coach. For me, it’s a great opportunity to learn new things about football and deepen my understanding of the game. I hope I can help the team control possession, support our attacking players so they can make the difference and score goals. My role is to link defence and attack while helping the team dominate possession as much as possible throughout the match.”

LEARNING FROM CHALLENGES
“I believe the difficult moments, when you don’t get much playing time or when things aren’t going well on the pitch, are the moments when I’ve learned the most. My career has had some wonderful periods, even extraordinary ones, but it’s also had very difficult moments. Those are the times when I grew the most, both as a footballer and as a person.”

POCHETTINO AND MARESCA
“I’ve worked with many coaches who have reached the very highest level. I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from outstanding managers and play alongside exceptional footballers. Personally, there are two coaches who really shaped the way I see football. Mauricio Pochettino gave me the opportunity to play and establish myself at Tottenham. He showed complete faith in me, and I owe him a great deal. As for football identity and understanding the game, working with Enzo Maresca completely changed the way I see football.”

COACH PISACANE
“Since arriving here, I’ve realised that coach Pisacane sees football in a very similar way, and for me that’s fantastic. It’s a real privilege. I’ve only been here for two weeks, but I’ve already learned so much from him. He’s exceptional at communicating his ideas. We’re working on keeping possession, which I believe is incredibly important in modern football and in making life difficult for opponents. I know I’ll learn a lot from him. I can’t wait to keep working with him throughout the season, and I hope I can help the team achieve its objectives.”

EXPERIENCE AND MENTALITY
“I’m one of the more experienced players in this squad, which feels a little strange because I don’t think I’ve ever been in that position before. But it’s exciting. We have some really talented players here, especially the younger ones, and I’ll do everything I can to help them. I’m the kind of player who likes to communicate on the pitch. I think I can pass on something to the younger lads, whether that’s the mentality needed for matches and training or simply my experience in general. At the same time, I’ll keep learning too. The coach, the staff and my teammates all have plenty to teach me.”

A YOUNG AND GENUINE GROUP
“I’ve joined a team where most people speak Italian, so I need to learn the language. I’ll start studying it as soon as possible. That’s one of the challenges I’m most excited about. My ambition is to improve as a player and help my teammates. I hope we can finish as high up the table as possible because we have a very good squad. There are some excellent players here. It’s a young, hungry team. I immediately noticed the way we approach training and the mentality inside the dressing room. It’s a close-knit, solid and genuine group. We need to keep going like this, following the coach and his many good ideas. If we do that, I really believe we can have a very good season.”

EVERYTHING FOR CAGLIARI
“I know how passionate the fans are, how important Cagliari is to them and to the whole city, and how much the Club wants to succeed. Since the day I arrived, my goal has been to follow the captain, support the team and give everything I have for Cagliari. I want to give my all for this Club. Every time I have the opportunity to play, I’ll leave everything out on the pitch. I hope that together we can achieve many great things.”

LIVING IN SARDINIA
“So far I’ve only been at the training camp, so I haven’t had the chance to explore Cagliari or Sardinia yet. But once we’re back on the island and I get the opportunity, it’s something I really can’t wait to do. My wife and daughter will come here and live with me in Cagliari. My wife has already told me about the beautiful beaches and how amazing the food is. I can’t wait to learn the language, immerse myself in the culture and experience the city. I hope to enjoy many wonderful moments here.”

TEN QUICK QUESTIONS
“Three words to describe myself? Ambitious, professional and open to learning new things. The best teammate I’ve played with? Mousa Dembélé. The toughest opponent I’ve faced? Lionel Messi. The most impressive stadium I’ve played in? Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion. The best coach I’ve worked with? Enzo Maresca. A player who inspired me? Steven Gerrard. A hobby outside football? Learning languages – I’ve been studying Spanish for some time. My favourite Italian dish? Pasta al pesto Genovese. What have I learned in Italian so far? Quite a few words, mainly football-related. Three words to describe Cagliari after these first few weeks? Passionate, exciting and welcoming.” (QUI IL LINK)

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