Bellamy Interview officially signed

Serko · June 22, 2006

CRAIG BELLAMY: THE FIRST LIVERPOOL INTERVIEW

Paul Rogers 22 June 2006

Craig Bellamy today agreed a four-year contract with Liverpool and immediately stressed that while joining the club is a dream come true, the real hard work starts now.

The Welsh international cut short a family holiday in Greece to fly back for talks with Reds boss Rafael Benitez on Wednesday and after completing a routine medical on Wednesday night, he will officially become a Liverpool player on July 1st.

Within minutes of agreeing the deal at Anfield today, Bellamy - a lifelong Liverpool fanatic - sat down to give his first interview to the club's official website. This is what he had to say...

Craig, I take it this is one instance where you don't actually mind your summer holiday being cut short?

"No question about that. Just to get the transfer completed today was an unbelievable moment for me. I just got married last month and that was obviously one of the highlights of my life but this is on par with that ? I know the missus might not be happy with me saying that but it's true! It's a dream come true to sign for the club I supported as a boy and to actually play for Liverpool will be an enormous honour. I'm a very proud person at the moment."

You sat down with Rafa on Wednesday - did he impress you with his ideas about how he wants to take the club forward?

"As a fan, he's impressed me ever since he arrived at Anfield. What he has achieved as a manager, both at Anfield and before that in Spain, tells you everything you need to know about the man and I didn't need to meet him to know that he was taking the club in the right direction. But as a player, meeting him, what he was saying made so much sense and I just hope I can play a part in this already brilliant football team and hopefully make this great club even more successful."

Bellamy on Bellamy

"I want to say this ? it's hard work coming here but it's going to be even harder to be a really big hit here ? that's the way I'm looking at it. It's going to take a lot of hard work, a lot of focus, a lot of discipline ? everything ? to make it at a club like this. Because I want to be a hit. I don't want to just be remembered as a Liverpool player, I want to be remembered as a good Liverpool player. That's my motivation."

Every Liverpool supporter wants to see the club finally lift the Premiership. Is that your goal now you've arrived at Anfield?

"Being a Liverpool supporter myself, at the start of every season it's the league title that you're looking to win. Being top of this league is something that Liverpool grew used to in the 70s and 80s but it hasn't happened for a while, and that has to change. Even from the outside looking in, you could tell that things were heading in the right direction under Mr Benitez and if we can improve on what we did last year and move two steps on, hopefully we can win the title."

Was it a hard decision to leave Blackburn Rovers?

"The fact that it was Liverpool made it impossible for me to turn down the move. As I'm a fan, it doesn't matter what club I was at ? I could never turn Liverpool down. You get the chance to play for Liverpool and it's a lifelong dream come true. I had a lot of friends at Blackburn - the players, the coaching staff, the chairman are all great people ? and I owe them a lot ? a hell of a lot to be honest. They helped me improve and they were there at an awkward time for me but I've spoken to a lot of the players and they know the situation. I've had no problem from any player at Blackburn and I'm sure if any of them got the chance to join the team they love with all their heart, they'd do exactly the same thing. It's sad in a way to leave Blackburn but this is too good a chance to turn down."

What do you think you will be able to bring to this Liverpool team?

"Obviously I hope to score plenty of goals, I hope to make a lot of goals for my teammates and just to be another attacking option and a threat. I think I suit the way the team plays and the way the team plays is perfect for me. I just feel I can really excel at this club and hopefully that will be the case."

You just had a quick walk around the stadium and the museum. You've been here plenty of times before but has it sunk in yet that you are now officially a Liverpool player?

"To be honest, it hasn't sunk in yet but it's getting there! I think when I go back on my holiday and sit down with my missus and my two boys and the phone calls start, it'll really start registering just what has happened. I want to say this though ? it's hard enough to come to a club like Liverpool, because it's such a special club and these opportunities arrive once in a lifetime, but I'm going to have to work even harder to make a good name for myself here. It's hard work coming here but it's going to be even harder to be a really big hit here ? that's the way I'm looking at it. It's going to take a lot of work, a lot of focus, a lot of discipline ? everything ? to make it at a club like this. Because I want to be a hit. I don't want to just be remembered as a Liverpool player, I want to be remembered as a good Liverpool player. That's my motivation."

The Premiership fixtures came out this morning and Liverpool were handed an away trip to Sheffield United. How much are you looking forward to the season starting and finally pulling on that Liverpool shirt in the Premiership?

"There's so many games at a club like this and they're all great games. Someone just asked me which game I'm most looking forward to but there are so many big games when you play for Liverpool. There's Everton, there's Manchester United, there's club's I've played for in my past and there'll be Champions League games if the qualifying games go well. This club is surrounded with so many great games, week in and week out, and just to pull on the shirt on European nights will be an absolute dream for me."

Finally, have you got a message for the fans who will be desperate to see you play in a Liverpool shirt?

"Not really. I just hope to send out a message to them when I play on the pitch. I've got to win them over as well. I've got to start off well ? and that's not usually the case for me to be honest, it usually takes me one or two game ? but I'm sure the fans will see what I'm about as soon as I start playing for this great club."

cestrianred · June 22, 2006

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