Re: U18 John Guidetti: "I need to play" (Upd: Res' hattrick)
Yes:
There's actually a story about that, from the article in the old thread, translated it a bit::
I'll add one more from the article, if you want to read it through Google translate it's here (click on "Barfotaspelaren")
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.offside.org/magasinet/smyglaesning.aspx?id=2848&templateName=preview" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.offside.org/magasinet/smygla ... me=preview</a>
Joga Bonito said:Age is becoming less and less of a factor in football (look at 16-year-old Romelu Lukaku if you don't understand me)...if he's confident and talented enough he should be given a go...but I wouldn't play him over our current forwards...
It was SGE who brought him here right?
Yes:
There's actually a story about that, from the article in the old thread, translated it a bit::
John arriving in City
John Guidetti looked around in the room. He noted the refrigerator and the two large sofas. He looked at father Mike and the three coaches - SGE, Tord Grip and Hasse Backe. He thought that SGE looked as calm as he does on TV. Then John thought of something and asked SGE:
"Can I take a picture with Micah Richards?"
Manchester City were just about to walk out and play West Ham in the Premier League, the arena was to be filled and his father told him the players probably has other things to think about than being photographed with a teenager who hadn't even signed the contract offered to him. SGE waived away the fathers "pleasantries":
- No, no, no, this is important. I'll get him.
John shrugged his shoulders satisfied towards his dad while the manager left. When Eriksson returned he had the star defender Richards and a photographer with him.
- If I personally had to choose between Sampdoria[ed: he was on trial there, see old thread] and Manchester City I'd chose City. I'm not just saying that because I'm the manager here, said SGE.
John replied:
- But it's important for me to get to the senior squad as soon as possible, because I'll play World Cup 2010. Do you put faith in young players?
SGE looked "overrun"(can't remember the English word) by the honesty, but quickly gathered himself, looked John in his eyes and said:
- You can write that down! Ask anyone! As soon as you're good enough you'll be with us up here. Didn't you see Walcott in the World Cup?
John nodded, SGE smiled satisfied.
I'll add one more from the article, if you want to read it through Google translate it's here (click on "Barfotaspelaren")
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.offside.org/magasinet/smyglaesning.aspx?id=2848&templateName=preview" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.offside.org/magasinet/smygla ... me=preview</a>
We're sitting in a restaurant - John, his dad Mike and me. John tells me he earlier told his prom date Sanna that he'd be late to the party because he had to train with his football team [ed: in Sweden, old club]. Sanna didn't get angry, but his class mates said:
"You can't do that to her! It's once in a lifetime".
John sighs:
"What "once in a lifetime"? Everything is once in a lifetime. I'm primary a football player, that's a full-time job. I know I'll miss my sister's graduation and wedding. Yeah I'll probably miss my own wedding, but that's because I have a crazy person's will to... I'm sorry, to I gnab on too much?"
- He can talk until tomorrow morning, father Mike says.
- Yeah, I'm probably a bit "non-shy".