Eldor Shomurodov: "I was close to leaving 'Roma', but now everything has turned out well"

The forward of the Uzbekistan national team and Italy's "Roma" club, Eldor Shomurodov, was a guest on the 90minutuz podcast.
- In the summer, when we talked in France before the Olympics, your activity at "Roma" was under question. Now we are talking about you as the best player of "Roma" in February...

- Football is interesting in that way. In the summer, I didn't know anything about my future. I could have moved to another club. After the coaching change in winter, I was one step away from moving to another club. In the end, I stayed at "Roma" and was named player of the month. Everything changed for the better. Players just need to focus on training and thinking about the game; how the future will be is up to God.

- How important is the coach's role? Specifically, Ranieri's role?
- Of course, the coach's role is important. Because if the coach communicates more with the player or knows him better, it becomes much easier for the player. I worked with Ranieri last year as well, so it's easier for me to understand him. Ranieri never puts extra pressure on the player; he says to play football from the heart. Tactical and technical problems happen to everyone; even I make mistakes. He wants players to give their all on the field.

- After Dovbik got injured, Ranieri trusted you, and you were able to fully utilize your opportunity. That's why you have now become a key player. What do you think about this?
- I felt a change in myself mentally as well. After all, a person starts to become wiser as they approach 30. Three years ago, my thoughts about football and preparation were different. Even though I spent a lot of time on the bench, I learned a lot. I figured out what kind of mood I need to have when coming onto the field from the bench. The mental state of a player is more important than the physical state. Because if you are mentally prepared, you can perform well in the game even if you are not physically ready.

In the summer, since my chances of leaving "Roma" were high, there were even times when I trained separately from the club. Whether I left or stayed, I would give my all to keep my conscience clear. The coach at that time, De Rossi, noticed this, and in the end, he decided to keep me in the team.

You can watch the full podcast below:


Source: championat.asia