Ayoze Perez Interview - Sky

[StriderHiryu]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11981685/ayoze-perez-interview-choosing-to-join-brendan-rodgers-at-leicester-and-wanting-the-best-for-newcastle

 

 

Ayoze Perez is back where it all began.

A lot has changed since he left his boyhood club Tenerife to join Newcastle in 2014. Six years on, he has grown up, amassed more than 150 Premier League appearances and opened a new chapter of his career at Leicester.

 

But spending the lockdown back on the island conjures up old memories.

 

"Some days, when I am training on the terrace, I have time to think about things," he tells Sky Sports via video call. "I remember being very young, when I used to play in my yard here for hours. After so many years, many things happen and many things change, but it is good think back to that."

 

Perez is doing what he can to keep his spirits up. He is following an individual training plan devised by the staff at Leicester, with whom he is in regular contact, and enjoying spending some downtime with his family. But football's absence has left a void. The lockdown presents mental challenges as well as physical ones for players everywhere.

"That's the toughest part, I would say," he adds.

"We are all professionals. We know we have to try and keep ourselves in shape. Everyone is training. Everyone is trying to keep their fitness up. But mentally, it's a tough moment right now.

 

"We know we have to think about the bigger picture. The most important thing is the health of everyone. But we all miss football. We need to stick together to get through this."

Football's postponement presents more unfamiliar ground in a season of change for Perez. The 26-year-old completed his £30m move from Newcastle to Leicester in July, ending a five-year spell at St James' Park and swapping one end of the Premier League table for the other. Before that, however, Spain seemed his most likely destination.

"To be honest, Leicester were one of the last teams that came to my agent to tell him they were interested," he says. "There were a couple of Spanish teams who we were talking to and trying to figure out if we could do a deal."

Perez was open to the idea. He left Tenerife as a youngster having never played higher than Spain's second tier and has made no secret of his desire to one day play in La Liga. But it all changed when he was invited to London to meet Brendan Rodgers.

 

"I flew to London and had a long conversation with him, trying to get to know each other, to speak a little bit," he says. "After I walked out of that meeting, I had the feeling that it was going to be the right decision to join Leicester. Brendan is such a great manager. The way he treated me and the way he spoke to me was important in my decision.

"Obviously, Leicester is also building up a great project. It's a great team which is developing. So, in the end, it was an easy decision. If you ask me today if it was the right one, I would say so."

Leicester have been transformed by Rodgers' appointment in February of last year. A strong finish to last season has been followed by further improvement in the current campaign. Their rise into the Champions League places has exceeded all expectations, but they are eight points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United and look a good bet to stay there.

According to Perez, it owes a lot to Rodgers' human touch.

"He's a great manager not only because of the pitch stuff, but also personally, you know?" says Perez. "He makes sure he speaks to everyone. He tries to help you with the personal side as well as the football side. He is very aware of every detail. Nowadays, that makes the difference, definitely.

 

"That's why he is such a great manager. He has got so much success in his career and for me, that's very important. It's very important in a dressing room, in a club. You need to have a manager like that to keep growing."

Rodgers has also helped Perez adapt to a new position, wide on the right of Leicester's 4-1-4-1 formation. The Spaniard, who still sees himself as a No 9 or No 10, does not have as much freedom to drift into central areas as he did at Newcastle, but he has earned plaudits for his defensive work-rate.

Despite a slow start to the campaign, there have also been seven goals and four assists in 25 Premier League games - giving him a higher combined total than Leicester team-mate James Maddison.

"I'm not going to lie, it's not my favourite position, but I just adapt myself to what Brendan wants," he says. "Last season at Newcastle, I played on the right wing as well, but more central, like a No 10 on the right-hand side.

"Now, I am trying to adapt, to make myself comfortable in this position, to try to get into the box as much as I can and have that feeling of scoring goals and creating chances. It's been a few months of trying to adapt myself to that position, to that team, but I'm feeling good. The most important thing to me is to be on the pitch and to be able to play as many games as possible. I'm trying my best to be at my best in that position."

 

It was difficult, too, to say goodbye to Newcastle. Perez split opinion with some sections of the fanbase at St James' Park, his fingers-in-ears celebration seen as a response to what he perceived to be unfair criticism, but he cherished his time there and wants to see the club do well.

"I just wish them the best," he says. "They are a special team for myself. It was a very important part of my career. They gave me the opportunity to become a professional footballer and I grew up a lot in that city, in that club. I always look at their results and I always hope for the best for them."

As for his own ambitions, Perez wants to build on an encouraging start to his Leicester career and help the club establish itself as a Champions League force. Beyond that, he still harbours hopes of playing for Spain.

Perez has not featured for his country since making two appearances for their U21s in 2014, but Rodgers has backed him for a senior call-up this season and there is emotion in his voice when asked what it would mean to him to win his first cap.

 

"It would mean a lot," he says, pausing to puff out his cheeks. "For me, that's so special. That's a dream that still has to come true. It's not easy. I know we've got such a great national team, so many good players. But obviously, being selfish, I would like to make my debut one day. It's a dream and it's still there. Hopefully in the next couple of years I can make it."

Until then, his return to Tenerife, to the place where it all began, is a reminder of how far he has already come.

[StanSP]

4 minutes ago, StriderHiryu said:

"To be honest, Leicester were one of the last teams that came to my agent to tell him they were interested," he says. "There were a couple of Spanish teams who we were talking to and trying to figure out if we could do a deal."

Perez was open to the idea. He left Tenerife as a youngster having never played higher than Spain's second tier and has made no secret of his desire to one day play in La Liga. But it all changed when he was invited to London to meet Brendan Rodgers.

 

"I flew to London and had a long conversation with him, trying to get to know each other, to speak a little bit," he says. "After I walked out of that meeting, I had the feeling that it was going to be the right decision to join Leicester. Brendan is such a great manager. The way he treated me and the way he spoke to me was important in my decision.

"Obviously, Leicester is also building up a great project. It's a great team which is developing. So, in the end, it was an easy decision. If you ask me today if it was the right one, I would say so."

Leicester have been transformed by Rodgers' appointment in February of last year. A strong finish to last season has been followed by further improvement in the current campaign. Their rise into the Champions League places has exceeded all expectations, but they are eight points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United and look a good bet to stay there.

According to Perez, it owes a lot to Rodgers' human touch.

"He's a great manager not only because of the pitch stuff, but also personally, you know?" says Perez. "He makes sure he speaks to everyone. He tries to help you with the personal side as well as the football side. He is very aware of every detail. Nowadays, that makes the difference, definitely.

 

"That's why he is such a great manager. He has got so much success in his career and for me, that's very important. It's very important in a dressing room, in a club. You need to have a manager like that to keep growing."

Love this bit

[Wolfox]

Would love for him to get a Spanish cap….

 

The ‘is he any good’ debate has been done to death…. Not sure anyone has really reached a conclusion…

[StriderHiryu]

38 minutes ago, StanSP said:

Love this bit

Totally agree. Many players say this about Rodgers, even former players. A great appointment by Top and Rudkin for sure and I am delighted he's here.

 

Will be interesting to see what happens to Ayoze. Think the verdict from most is he's been disappointing given the price tag, though far from awful and has shown glimpses. If he wants that Spanish cap he's got to perform at 8/10 every week rather than 1 in every 5/6 games. Can he get there? Remains to be seen, but I do think he has a lot of technical quality. Some of his finishes against Southampton were top draw. Looking at what Rodgers has done with Barnes and Ndidi I think he could still come good. I'd say he still doesn't fully "get" the position he gets selected for, but that can be learnt over time. Harvey Barnes for me is a great example of this, he had great touches but looked lost in his first 12 months here. Since January though he might have been our best player. You can see from his positioning and supporting of the attack that he's getting comfortable in his role and now becoming more effectual. That could happen to Ayoze too. He doesn't have the pace, flair or dribbling, but he is a better "linker", finisher and a great high presser.

 

Ayoze also comes across as a good guy, and I like that in a player!

[Lambert09]

He really does leave you confused about his ability though. I remember thinking after the Southampton game that this is when he would kick on, then the next game it was like the confidence never settled in him. 

 

Then against Chelsea he was unbelievable, his link up play just worked, again I was thinking... this is it, he’s figured out the role. But again, the time he played it looked like it was his first game in the role. 

 

Hes clearly is just just a hot and cold player that we can never really know what we are going to get from. 

 

 

 

 

[Stadt]

He’s in the 4th percentile for times disposed in the top 5 leagues , that is abysmal. It’s so bizarre that he tries to hold the ball up when it’s not his game at all. He’s got quick feet and gets into good positions but he’s an average player in all honesty. I don’t mean it in a particularly disparaging way but out of all of our first team players Perez is the most replaceable. Not even his fault really but £30m was steep for a reasonable but unspectacular player and shows why buying from other premier league clubs is usually best avoided 

[Collymore]

6 hours ago, Stadt said:

He’s in the 4th percentile for times disposed in the top 5 leagues , that is abysmal. It’s so bizarre that he tries to hold the ball up when it’s not his game at all. He’s got quick feet and gets into good positions but he’s an average player in all honesty. I don’t mean it in a particularly disparaging way but out of all of our first team players Perez is the most replaceable. Not even his fault really but £30m was steep for a reasonable but unspectacular player and shows why buying from other premier league clubs is usually best avoided 

I'm sorry mate but I'm not having this. Stats are all well and good but it's like saying Ndidi is one of the lowest in the four leagues for shots on target or something ridiculous. 

 

Also if you're making out that Perez is that bad you're questioning Rodgers judgement and almost stating you know better than him. Gray gets a bit of stick on here and you almost sense that Rodgers agrees with a lot of what's said and that kind of justifies the criticism.

 

I actually really rate Perez and I think he offers a lot in the team. I find myself saying "I think Perez was good today" more than not. A typical example was that pressing he did against Sheff Utd away where he won the ball for Maddison and then Vardy scored, commentator doesn't even really mention it but it's the difference between 1 and 3 points. 

 

See at 1 minute

 

 

 

[Fox92]

9 hours ago, Lambert09 said:

He really does leave you confused about his ability though. I remember thinking after the Southampton game that this is when he would kick on, then the next game it was like the confidence never settled in him. 

 

Then against Chelsea he was unbelievable, his link up play just worked, again I was thinking... this is it, he’s figured out the role. But again, the time he played it looked like it was his first game in the role. 

 

Hes clearly is just just a hot and cold player that we can never really know what we are going to get from. 

 

 

 

 

His link up play, his first touch and control are excellent and among the best I've seen from any player at the club.

 

I know he has played right wing before put I don't like it. I'd much rather have him alongside, or off, Vardy.

[splinterdream]

9 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

His link up play, his first touch and control are excellent and among the best I've seen from any player at the club.

 

I know he has played right wing before put I don't like it. I'd much rather have him alongside, or off, Vardy.

Definately this, he has tremendous ability when inside the box, lightening quick feet with an instinct in front of goal. I think he's a forward/striker and his ability on the right is limited, I think the plan was for Ricardo to take up the balk of that work and ayoze to play inside, if Ricardo is busy at the back though watching ayoze pushed out wide is frustrating, I can't help but feel for this we need another option if Albrighton isn't it. 

[Stadt]

5 hours ago, Collymore said:

I'm sorry mate but I'm not having this. Stats are all well and good but it's like saying Ndidi is one of the lowest in the four leagues for shots on target or something ridiculous. 

 

Also if you're making out that Perez is that bad you're questioning Rodgers judgement and almost stating you know better than him. Gray gets a bit of stick on here and you almost sense that Rodgers agrees with a lot of what's said and that kind of justifies the criticism.

 

I actually really rate Perez and I think he offers a lot in the team. I find myself saying "I think Perez was good today" more than not. A typical example was that pressing he did against Sheff Utd away where he won the ball for Maddison and then Vardy scored, commentator doesn't even really mention it but it's the difference between 1 and 3 points. 

 

See at 1 minute

 

 

 

Well an attacking player losing the ball at a rate far higher than average is different to a defensive minded player getting shots on target. Constantly turning the ball over is detrimental to attacking play, it’s not that he loses the ball - all attacking players lose the ball, it’s that he’s one of the worst for giving up possession in the top 5 leagues.

 

Your second paragraph is just plain weird tbh, where have I insinuated I know more than Rodgers? If that’s the case nobody can criticise players on here because if we do, we’re acting like we know more than Rodgers. I said he was reasonable which and yet you’re making out like I said he’s one of the worst players that’s ever put on our shirt. 

 

 

[Collymore]

37 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Wel an attacking player losing the ball at a rate far higher than average is different to a defensive minded player getting shots on target. Constantly turning the ball over is detrimental to attacking play, it’s not that he loses the ball - all attacking players lose the ball, it’s that he’s one of the worst for giving up possession in the top 5 leagues.

 

Your second paragraph is just plain weird tbh, where have I insinuated I know more than Rodgers? If that’s the case nobody can criticise players on here because if we do, we’re acting like we know more than Rodgers. I said he was reasonable which and yet you’re making out like I said he’s one of the worst players that’s ever put on our shirt. 

 

 

...but if you read your post it was beyond constructive criticism, you basically implied he was the weak link in the team, which is fine, it's your opinion, but be prepared for people to call you on it. 

 

I stand by with what I said - if he's as bad as you're making out you must think Rodgers is blind playing him so much or you haven't really considered that. 

 

When I hammered Chilwell on here I also questioned why Rodgers was playing him, but in all fairness he did end up resting him.

[Nicolo Barella]

I think he would be one of the biggest beneficiaries alongside Iheanacho if we switched to a 3-5-2. Will be interesting to see if Rodgers experiments much in the back end of this season (if we do end up finishing it).

[Bayfox]

On 02/05/2020 at 01:09, Stadt said:

He’s in the 4th percentile for times disposed in the top 5 leagues , that is abysmal. It’s so bizarre that he tries to hold the ball up when it’s not his game at all. He’s got quick feet and gets into good positions but he’s an average player in all honesty. I don’t mean it in a particularly disparaging way but out of all of our first team players Perez is the most replaceable. Not even his fault really but £30m was steep for a reasonable but unspectacular player and shows why buying from other premier league clubs is usually best avoided 

🤔

[South Shire Fox]

Might have scored a few goals but personally think he offers us very little and wouldnt care less if he left tbh. Just like a square peg in a round hole, much rather we just went out and spent money on a tricky left footed right winger in the Mahrez mould.

[brucey]

32 minutes ago, South Shire Fox said:

Might have scored a few goals but personally think he offers us very little and wouldnt care less if he left tbh. Just like a square peg in a round hole, much rather we just went out and spent money on a tricky left footed right winger in the Mahrez mould.

If an attacker offering goals isn't what you're looking for, then what will please you? Rather have someone also offering fancy tricks and the occasional sulky attitude, in the Mahrez mould? We've already got that in Gray (minus the goals), which is why we binned him for Perez... 

 

I'll just paste this here from the other thread:

 

Maddison this season - 28 apps, 6 goals 3 assists

- cost £23m, current value £70-100m (according to CIES)

Perez this season - 25 apps, 7 goals 4 assists

- cost £30m, current value ??

 

And if we have been playing Perez out of position pretty much every game, that's even more impressive. 

 

Said perfect winger might

1) cost far more than Perez did

2) want more wages than Vardy

3) not want to join us

4) not settle / turn out a flop - just look at Newcastle and West Ham's recent purchases of attackers. Or even us with Ghezzal, who is the literal definition of "tricky left footed right winger in the Mahrez mould". 

 

Maybe we couldn't sign anyone better realistically, and the only other option was sticking with Gray? That would have cost us a CL spot and the many, many associated millions. 

 

This signing has turned out better than most. 

Some just don't like it because Newcastle is an unfashionable club. If we'd signed him from Barca B you'd all be happier. 

 

[sacreblueits442]

19 minutes ago, brucey said:

If an attacker offering goals isn't what you're looking for, then what will please you? Rather have someone also offering fancy tricks and the occasional sulky attitude, in the Mahrez mould? We've already got that in Gray (minus the goals), which is why we binned him for Perez... 

 

I'll just paste this here from the other thread:

 

Maddison this season - 28 apps, 6 goals 3 assists

- cost £23m, current value £70-100m (according to CIES)

Perez this season - 25 apps, 7 goals 4 assists

- cost £30m, current value ??

 

And if we have been playing Perez out of position pretty much every game, that's even more impressive. 

 

Said perfect winger might

1) cost far more than Perez did

2) want more wages than Vardy

3) not want to join us

4) not settle / turn out a flop - just look at Newcastle and West Ham's recent purchases of attackers. Or even us with Ghezzal, who is the literal definition of "tricky left footed right winger in the Mahrez mould". 

 

Maybe we couldn't sign anyone better realistically, and the only other option was sticking with Gray? That would have cost us a CL spot and the many, many associated millions. 

 

This signing has turned out better than most. 

Some just don't like it because Newcastle is an unfashionable club. If we'd signed him from Barca B you'd all be happier. 

 

...no!!!!!

[The whole world smiles]

Just been watching some of this season's games on youtube and it's amazing how many goals Perez has been involved in either directly with goals or assists or indirectly linking up play and being involved in sweeping attacking moves. 

 

Couple this with an excellent work ethic and willingness to put tackles in and track back and I think he's been very good in his first 3/4 of a season for us. 

 

I see him as a bit of a Rolls Royce Okazaki. Brings a lot of what Shinji did but is also technically a lot better.

 

Definitely has a bit of room for improvement but he's coming into his prime as a player and I'm reasonably confident we will see a lot more from him. 

[volpeazzurro]

On 01/05/2020 at 20:45, Wolfox said:

Would love for him to get a Spanish cap….

 

The ‘is he any good’ debate has been done to death…. Not sure anyone has really reached a conclusion…

If it's questionable whether he's good enough for us, he's nowhere near a cap for Spain. 

[volpeazzurro]

On 02/05/2020 at 14:02, Collymore said:

...but if you read your post it was beyond constructive criticism, you basically implied he was the weak link in the team, which is fine, it's your opinion, but be prepared for people to call you on it. 

 

I stand by with what I said - if he's as bad as you're making out you must think Rodgers is blind playing him so much or you haven't really considered that. 

 

When I hammered Chilwell on here I also questioned why Rodgers was playing him, but in all fairness he did end up resting him.

Very subjective of course but I go with the original poster and think he's very average to poor. Weak, gives the ball away and though he runs around a lot, goes missing. Had two good games for me spending more time on his arse than his feet. 

As for Rodgers, he's not beyond criticism either and his record shows that his past forays into the transfer market has been piss poor at times. At £30m, Perez is another one. 

[Vindaloo FOX]

7 goals this season so far, pretty happy with that for his first season for us.

 

Got a feeling he may surprise us next season and step up his game.

 

If he wants that Spainish call up no better stage to show your ability than the champions league.

[Ric Flair]

Okazaki type player in the sense that his unfashionable work as part of a successful unit is unappreciated. He may well get disposed a lot but he also came here as the top midfielder/attacker at winning the ball in the opposition half in 2018/19, which is crucial to Rodgers high pressing style. I don't think he is worth £30m and as someone else said, this is the danger of trying to recruit players in their prime from the PL but he's got 7 goals and 4 assists in 21 starts and 4 sub appearances. Those stats paint probably a better picture than what we've experienced and seen from him on a game by game basis but it offers comfort that he has a knack of being involved in goals even if he doesn't appear to be that influential for us. Let's hope he can get better for us, the majority of the goals he's been involved in haven't been crucial this season (we'd have got the points without them) but there will come a time that his goals will be badly needed and that's what it's all about really.

[Wolfox]

2 hours ago, volpeazzurro said:

If it's questionable whether he's good enough for us, he's nowhere near a cap for Spain. 

Agreed - but, when he’s hot, he’s hot!

 

My comment wasn’t really serious, but, if he were to get a cap, it would mean he was playing really well!

[Fox42]

I still think he needs moving more centrally in position and for his sake we need to recruit an actual winger to bring him in more forward. I believe he would solve our attacking options more than our wide options once that is sorted. Once we use him according to his strengths we’ll see the £30m player in him. He’ll come 100% good next season I’m sure of it.