Kelly Somers – New Podcast – The Football Interview with Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes was jovial and spent time opening about his childhood and family life, along with his past, and his future at the current club. The embattled captain talks about some of his biggest moments and how he deals with negative punditry in the media.

Listen to the podcast here: https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1376×774/p0m23tkb.jpg

Somers started the interview asking about the Portuguese international’s childhood and early footballing life. “Well, Bruno, describe to me a young Bruno. What were you like as a child?”

“A dreamer.” Many younger people would share this feeling as they get older, even fewer get to achieve it. Fernandes was then asked about his early days playing football “Do you remember the first team you played for?” Fernandes added that he played for a few teams in Portugal, starting in Infesta his hometown as a Futsal player.

It’s interesting to learn that Fernandes began playing Futsal, a five a side soccer game played on a court or small pitch. “I learned in adversity” describes how Fernandes gained a strong mentality that developed here with his smaller stature requiring more commitment an effort, this phenomenon is prevalent in the football world for many of todays stars, who often must fight against adversity to achieve their dreams on the pitch.

Somers went on to ask Fernandes who his role models were in earlier years and who he idolised in the football world. “Who would you say had the biggest impact on your career?”

“Obviously my family.” Fernandes then elaborated on the question to express the gratitude he has for his partner, standing by his side throughout his adult life “And then my wife now, girlfriend at the time, she had a little bit of the same as my mum and my dad.”  Doesn’t the saying go, behind every strong man is a strong woman.

Fernandes reinforced this as he went on to say how much of a support his wife is to him and his family. “She always kept me very low. She was always very supportive of me, but always, like, just be aware that things can go wrong.” Fernandes wrapped up his answer to Somer’s question acknowledging the coach that gave him a chance at his first professional club, Udinese. Francesco Guidolin, who taught as Fernandes describes it, he must “suffer” to achieve his best.

Fernandes like millions of others looks up to Ronaldo (Cristiano). As do many in his generation, he admires Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho Gaucho for inspiration on the pitch. Fernandes admits, he is one of the lucky few it may have happened for and says, “I’ve played against most of my idols.” Fernandes has had some career, boasting about the depth of opposition he has faced.

Somers moves on from where Fernandes has come from and focuses the interview in on his career now. Somers asks the United captain some questions that identify how he deals with the stress and pressure he experiences while playing on the big stage. Somers asks, “What are you most proud of from your career so far?” Fernandes replies modestly “everything.” With many big moments in Fernandes life such as Olympics and World Cup football it might be hard to compare it to premier league football.

“What’s the hardest thing to do on a football pitch?” Somers asks Bruno, digging deeper into the midfielder’s psyche to find out what makes him tick. “Consistency” and “doing what it takes for the team.” Even at the highest level for some time now Fernandes still gets nervous, especially in important games.

Somers interviewee for this interview has seemed a good pick, maybe some of the other role models in the premier league have been in headlines for the wrong reasons. Bruno Fernandes on the other hand has done so by reaching a memorable milestone that cements him as a premier league great, the example he sets on and off the pitch and his attitude are worldclass.