Lazio Forward Pereira: “Very Special to Experience the Derby Against Roma Up Close” | OneFootball

It is very important for me this moment, the beginning was difficult to adapt because of the differences between Serie A and the English league, to adapt to what the coach wanted from me, to his way of playing. In fact, he often talks to me, he tells me that he brought me here because he and the manager wanted me in his team and therefore, I had to adapt to his style of play as the other players who came before me did. He helped me a lot, now I’m finding my space more and more, entering the game towards the end to help the team and I’m always willing to give my best. There are three games left and I hope we can continue to make not only the coach but also the fans, the manager and my team-mates happy and finish the season well.

It was in my first game as a starter, I scored my first goal, I had just arrived and this made me very happy. I felt another great feeling in the game against Roma, I did not think the derby was so important, the coach and the teammates explained me well and also the fans sent me messages before the derby, I felt the pressure and I understood the importance of the Derby della Capitale. In the end I didn’t play in the game but we won 3-0 and it was a very special thing to be able to experience up close.

I’ve already said expressly that I feel like a ‘Santista’. When my time in Europe ends my first option will always be Santos. It doesn’t matter how, but for me in Brazil there is only one team, Santos. It is my dream to finish my career there. I have already spoken to the president and they have reassured me in this. So, let’s see what will happen in the next few years, but I would love to end it. Even just coming back to Santos would be an immense pride.

Italian football is more tactical, English football is more dynamic. In the eyes of the fans Italian football may seem more monotonous but it’s not, it’s much harder to play and when you’re on the pitch the tension is higher. At the beginning I got help from my team-mates and the coach in training because I was used to starting off strong and moving forward, but then I realised that in Italy you don’t do that.

I got on very well with Lucas straight away, in fact I already knew him from my time at Liverpool but we’d never connected. When I found out I was coming to Lazio I immediately wrote to him and he calmed me down by telling me what it’s like here. Today I’m very close to him and Reina, who are the most experienced and have the most patience to listen to young players.

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