Leo midfielder has been one of the biggest revelations of the season.
In an interview with UEFA, Morten Hjulmand is satisfied with his decision to come and play with Sporting, confesses he is dazzled by the size of the club, highlights the role of Rúben Amorim and spoke about the match against Young Boys, counting for the Europa League.
The importance of the UEFA Youth League: “I always say it’s a good competition for young people. It was good for me and my colleagues because we were able to see what a world we can enter if we play for the big European clubs. We had games in the League, but also in the Youth League. We understand how football works in Europe.”
Arrival at Sporting: “I had some good conversations with the club, about the way they work and the ambitions they have. We had a good connection and I felt good about Sporting, so of course I wanted to join the club”
Knowledge of Sporting: “Before arriving, I wasn’t expecting Sporting to have this magnitude. In the first game I saw, I was surprised by what the club means to the fans here in Portugal. Everything has been positive, in a club of this caliber, not just in Portugal but also in Europe. I confirmed that this was the right change for me.”
Role of Rúben Amorim: “I believe that all players can speak openly with him. He is a very accessible person, his door is always open. All players can speak to him, understand what he thinks and his vision for the team. He made everything very clear for me before coming. He is very dedicated. He knows how to motivate us for every game. There are many matches: we have League, Cup and Europa League. Our coach is good at preparing us for European games, which are important, like so are the league and national cup games. We try to get into a rhythm of winning as many games as possible, while also putting in good performances. That’s what our coach manages to get out of us. It’s also the way he talks to us in training, in the locker room, on video, before each match.”
Differences between Italian and Portuguese football: “In Italy, we had a lot of training and few breaks, a bit like here. But I feel that, here, the training is more intense, due to faster football, with fewer stops and more intensity, where there are many stops and the speed is lower. Serie A has other qualities, but these are the aspects in which I have noticed changes since I arrived at Sporting.”
Competition in midfield: “I took it in stride. We have a lot of good players and, with so many games, it’s clear that there needs to be rotation, so that we can remain fresh and injury-free. However, I think I’ve shown what I am as a player. I have to show what I’m worth , do my part and help us win. At the end of the day, the coach decides whether I play or not.”
Relationship between fans and players: “It’s always incredible to play at home in front of our fans. We appreciate the support they give us and we try to give back as much as possible.”
About performance in the group stage: “We definitely attach great importance to the Europa League. Sporting always wants to come first. Of course we were disappointed, but we advanced to the next stage, which was one of our objectives. Now, we will face Young Boys, who are a great team. We’re looking forward to this game.”
The play-off for access to the round of 16 of the Europa League: “Young Boys have played in European competition for several years. We know how difficult it is to play on the synthetic pitch at their stadium. It’s different to what we’re used to, so we have to be prepared.”
2024-02-12 21:06:00
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