tcrofts Posted 20 January 2015 Posted 20 January 2015 Can't see this posted anywhere else, apologies if it is. From the Leicester Mercury New signing Andrej Kramaric has revealed he chose Leicester City over Chelsea because of the opportunities available at the King Power Stadium. The 23-year-old joined City last week on a deal that is potentially worth more than £9million. He said he had lots of offers from clubs, including current Premier League leaders Chelsea, but he chose City because they presented a better opportunity for him to prove himself in the English top flight. Kramaric, speaking in excellent English, said it was always his dream to play in the Premier League having watched games on television back home in Croatia, and he described signing for City as an exciting new chapter. “I heard about Leicester’s interest about two years ago for the first time,” he said. “But there was nothing concrete about their interest and that they wanted to sign me until about two months ago. “It wasn’t so easy because I had many options with many clubs. “I talked a lot with my parents, my friends, my coaches and a lot of people around me. After all that, I decided to come here. “I am ready for a new beginning. “Chelsea were interested in me too, but I chose Leicester because I think it is the best way for my career right now. “I am not sure I would have played at Chelsea. I like Leicester fans and the people, the stadium and the training facilities. “Everything is at another level and I hope I can do my best here and we will stay in the Premier League.” Kramaric is ambitious and wants to play at the very highest level possible, but while he was a little concerned at City’s position in the Premier League, he believes they will beat the drop and he will get to prove his ability in the top flight. “It was an important part for me, to play in the Premier League, because it is the best league in the world,” he said. “This was my dream. This is a new challenge for me. “I told a few friends a few days ago that before, two months ago, I was watching games on television and now I am here, and I am ready to find out where I am in this league. I hope to be a success here. “Chelsea now is the best team in the Premier League. They are something special, but I chose Leicester because in my opinion I would play more games. “It is an important step for me and then I can make a big step, which is why I am here. “That (the position in the league) was the reason I didn’t decide immediately, but it was my choice. “I want to play here with the best players around me. “I hope I can play my part in helping Leicester stay in the Premier League. “That was the brave thing for me, but I believe in myself and my team-mates.”
RokoNZ Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 “I want to play here with the best players around me.“I hope I can play my part in helping Leicester stay in the Premier League. So you want him to say We instead of I Collymore? English is his second language but in no sentence spoken does your comment make any sense. In fact, I would say English is not your first language if you can add a We before anything he said, which was totally team based apart from his own desires of playing in the premier league Rant over
Raj Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 “I want to play here with the best players around me. “I hope I can play my part in helping Leicester stay in the Premier League. So you want him to say We instead of I Collymore? English is his second language but in no sentence spoken does your comment make any sense. In fact, I would say English is not your first language if you can add a We before anything he said, which was totally team based apart from his own desires of playing in the premier league Rant over eh?
RokoNZ Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 Raj, I was referring to Collymore's comment above mine where he said there was no I in team. You'd need to read all the messages
BigMicky Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 There's no "I" in team. But there is one winner.
Benguin Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 There's no "I" in team. Yeah but there's a U in cun.t
Suffolk exile Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 We all have to pray that Kram works out - that would be amazing!
davieG Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 There's more..... The Croatian hotshot says the apartments he has seen so far "are all old", but is confident he can bring his skills to the Premier League and help the Foxes fight for Europe BET £5 £10 £20 £50 £100 =CHE£11DRAW£100BRA£170 EXCLUSIVEBy Andrija VukovicLeicester City striker Andrej Kramaric says he is still trying to teach his team-mates how to pronounce his name, and revealed his trouble in finding somewhere to live in the east Midlands.Kramaric was linked with a number of clubs across Europe, including AC Milan and Juventus, and was on the verge of a move to Chelsea only for it to break down after his former club, Rijeka, asked for a bigger fee.The Foxes wasted no time in capitalising on the hold-up and quickly snapped up the latest eastern European hot property, who had scored 28 goals in 30 appearances this season before moving to England.And Kramaric, 23, is clearly thrilled at the prospect of making his mark in England. He told Goal: "The Premier League is fantastic, the play is three times faster, mostly because of pitches that are in great condition. You don't have time to think. Until two months ago I watched Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal on TV and now I will play against them! "I am curious what I can do, I still don't know what I am worth in English football. And for us, those kind of matches are 'bonus matches', every point you gain against them is like a bonus when you struggle to survive in the Premier League."Leicester could play in the Europa league, and I believe we would be higher positioned in other top European leagues."After falling out with Dinamo Zagreb, the club he had been at since the age of six, Kramaric moved to Rijeka in 2013 and hit the ground running, scoring 30 goals in 41 matches, including, incredibly, eight in one cup match against Zmaj Blato.He got even better this season, hitting 21 goals in 18 league outings alone, and it appears he has not been affected by the whirlwind nature of his latest move."I had no initiation into the team, I didn't need to sing or anything like that. There was no time. I've heard fans support me, it means a lot to me. Everyone in the city of Leicester knows me because they have seen my photo in the newspaper, and on match day the whole of Leicester lives for football."But his first few days with the club have not been completely smooth, he admits: "I am trying to teach my team-mates to call me Krama but they struggle to pronounce my name!"I wanted to wear jersey No.91 but in England they only allow you to take numbers up to 45. I took number 40, but it doesn't matter, I play and not the number."More importantly, though, the youngster is so far not too enamoured with his living arrangements: "Mostly I talk to Andy King and Mark Schwarzer who also arrived now and we live in the same hotel. I have to admit I am not so satisfied with apartments in Leicester, they are all old. I still live in a hotel but will have to move soon."Kramaric, who says John Terry is the best defender in England, does not appear to be intimidated by the robust nature of his Premier League markers and is confident he will be able to deploy his array of skills, even if there is a lingering hesitance."In England you have less time to [dribble] but on the other hand it is easier because defenders come at you more aggressively and that makes it easier to see their body movements and dribble! Uh, but defenders really come at you strong..."I know fans don't like divers, players who fall in the box. And I didn't go down after a Stoke defender put both hands around me. But I didn't think about falling, I just wanted to score."Kramaric is the 22nd Croatian to sign for an English top-flight club, and after making his debut on Saturday he was not shy to poke fun at one former Aston Villa striker who helped negotiate his transfer. "A lot of Croatian strikers played in the Premier League, I hope to score at least one and be better than Bosko Balaban! I am joking. Bosko was involved in my transfer and he helped me a lot."Kramaric enjoys fishing in a very literal sense, too, and has already scoped out some potential spots in his new surroundings.For now, though, he is just focused on finding the back of the net and helping the Foxes keep up their fight against relegation by continuing his fine form in front of goal."Which goalkeeper would I love to score against? The next one I face..."
Callabinho Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 Why does Andy King Live in a hotel? Schwarzer lives in the hotel with him. He sounds pretty grounded, knows it will be challenging but has a confidence about him that will see his succeed.
lcfcsnow Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 "I wanted to wear jersey No.91 but in England they only allow you to take numbers up to 45. I took number 40, but it doesn't matter, I play and not the number." Strange and flawed rule, as Emnes managed to get number 52 last season at Swansea.
Out Foxed Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 Yeah but there's a U in cun.t so don't be one. he's chatting shit about the apartments
Guest Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 So we're just a stepping stone. He'll be gone next season whether we stay up or go down - unless he proves to be not good enough and no-one wants him.
RokoNZ Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 This article was translated from a Croatian interview, and I've seen somewhere where a guy said he was just a cliché saying Leicester were Europa League quality, so I'll explain that more fully because he's a serious guy, and very honest. What he's referring to is that Rijeka played in the Europa and beat teams like Feyenoord and drew with Sevilla, and he thinks Leicester are on that level. In fact most prem teams would be on that level to play group stage Europa league and do well. So it's not a cliché to get fans on board, just an observation. Pretty much what he says is what he means I've found from all the times I've heard him being interviewed. Confident, but not cocky
Soar Fox Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 Strange and flawed rule, as Emnes managed to get number 52 last season at Swansea. Bendtner wore number 52 at Arsenal. I think maybe Nige has told him a little lie.
MrSpaM Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 It's interesting that we were looking at him a couple of years ago when he was relatively unknown I think it's pretty obvious the guy is using us as a stepping stone for bigger things, If he keeps us up this season I'm more than happy with that though.
RokoNZ Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 FIF, how did you come to that conclusion? He's happy at Leicester and will definitely be staying if they don't get relegated. He needs to play well to make the Leicester starting team first
Itsthejoeker Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 So we're just a stepping stone. He'll be gone next season whether we stay up or go down - unless he proves to be not good enough and no-one wants him. What a breath of fresh air you are.
ScouseFox Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 Bendtner wore number 52 at Arsenal. I think maybe Nige has told him a little lie. didn't that pozo kid who played up front for man city against us have like number 87 or something, too? nige has clearly just said "listen, son, 91 isn't happening".
davieG Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 For anyone that proves themselves good enough to play for a 'bigger' team than LCFC we will be a stepping stone. If we want the best players in our team that's something we have to accept and in many ways that is for the best because at least you are getting a quality ambitious player who's going to give of their best in order to get that chance to play at the very top.
davieG Posted 21 January 2015 Posted 21 January 2015 didn't that pozo kid who played up front for man city against us have like number 87 or something, too? nige has clearly just said "listen, son, 91 isn't happening". ...and if you don't like it go and moan to Stringer.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.