Page 24 - Soccer360 - Issue 103

One on One CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU
‘It is true - I say
“hate to lose”
rather than “love
to win.” ’
CHRISTOPHER
NKUNKU
ONE ON ONE
BY THOMAS UNSWORTH
Christopher Nkunku (L) of France in action against Denmark during the UEFA Nations League soccer match
WHAT CAN CHELSEA FANS WHO HAVEN’T WATCHED MUCH BUNDESLIGA FOOTBALL EXPECT FROM YOU?
I am a quiet guy - I prefer to do my talking on
the pitch. I want them to know that I will give everything for this great club. Of course their dream is to win major trophies and also that is my dream.
IS IT ONE OF YOUR AMBITIONS TO GET CHELSEA BACK IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?
Of course - it is a competition that the fans are used to see us play in. Not just playing in - but also winning. We as a playing group know that The Champions League is where this club belongs and we will all be working so hard this season to make that happens.
YOU WERE ONE OF THE MOST WANTED STRIKERS IN EUROPE - WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN CHELSEA?
The project was an exciting one - this is a club that is used to winning trophies and this project shows to me they are committed to winning more. I want to get better and to improve and I am sure I can do this under this coach and with this set of players. Also the opportunity to live in a great city like London was exciting.
HOW MUCH DID YOU KNOW ABOUT LONDON BEFORE YOU JOINED CHELSEA?
It was not a city I knew well - that is why I am so
excited to get to know it. I had played here twice at the stadiums of Spurs and Arsenal - but apart from that I did not really know the city well. It has been nice to have Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana who I both know from the national team to help me settle.
IT HAS ONLY BEEN A SHORT TIME - BUT HOW HAVE YOU FOUND WORKING UNDER CHELSEA COACH MAURICIO POCHETTINO?
It has only been a short time - but already he has shown so much faith in me and helped me improve my game. He has so much knowledge of the game and works so well individually with the players - that I am convinced he is the right man for this Chelsea project.
YOU HAVE STATED YOU ARE A PLAYER WHO “HATES TO LOSE”
It is true - I say “hate to lose” rather than “love to win.” They sound like they mean they same - but to be a true winner you need to make sure you “hate to lose” as much as you “love to win”
YOU STARTED OFF AS A MIDFIELD PLAYER - HOW DIFFICULT DID YOU FIND THE TRANSITION TO STRIKER?
I work so hard and I am so motivated that I did not find the transition difficult. I play where my coaches asked me to play - so when I was asked to play striker that is what I did. I worked hard and soon it was clear that I was able to score goals.
24 SOCCER360 MAGAZINE