AFC Bournemouth
Ahead of the match with Norwich City, we sat down for an in-depth conversation with Jefferson Lerma to talk about his start to the season and much more.
In the first half of the exclusive interview with afcb.co.uk the midfielder talks about his opening-day goal and the difference in approach under manager Jason Tindall.
In Saturday's second half the Colombia international goes into detail of his family-orientated lockdown in Dorset as well as communicating with his parents back home in South America.
How has the beginning of the season been for you?
Yeah, I am very happy. I started the season scoring a goal, but the most important thing is that we have been working hard to try and get back to the Premier League as soon as possible.
You even scored against Blackburn, having a good game as we started the season with a win. How was that?
Yes, with thanks to god I had the chance to score a goal, it’s really important to start the season like this because it boosts your confidence, your motivation and your will to do your best. We are professional but I think that keeps you going, so I will try to score more goals to keep having these good sensations.
Is it different to play in the Championship? Does it feel any easier?
Well, if anything is harder. All the teams have the same goal, promotion…
In the first two games, I could feel the high intensity of the games, all the time there is contact, so you can feel every player on the pitch is eager to win.
We are going to have a battle every week. We must be prepared for it because we are aware of our responsibility and the goal that we have.
Would you say the intensity is higher in the Championship than in the Premier League?
Yes, the Championship is tough. Also, there are more games than in the Premier League and the calendar is very intense, so we need to take care of ourselves to give our best throughout the competition.
How is everything going with the new manager?
Good! Obviously, I have been working with him since I arrived, so I already knew him. I feel the same respect, and the same desire to give my best under this manager. He is now the head coach so he is in charge now.
Have there been many tactical changes with the new manager, or is it the same style?
There are a lot of similarities, but obviously every person has their own ideas and this applies to managers as well, so there are also small changes too.
Now we press higher after losing the ball, which is something very important. If we recover the ball quickly and high up the pitch, we have a better chance to attack.
That’s very good for the team. We also try to keep possession and move the ball well, but once we lose it, we try to be intense to get it back.
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This year has been very weird, hasn’t it? How are you coping with this weird season, and with all the situations with Covid-19?
Well, I wouldn’t call it weird, it’s just what we have at the moment. Unfortunately, the whole world is going through this, not only England, and we have to adapt to this situation, be strong and be responsible about it.
We are aware that there have been many victims so this is not a game. It’s important to follow the guidelines we had as we did to finish the Premier League last season.
How did you find training at home during the lockdown?
When the lockdown started, I was training but it’s true that it was hard to be very demanding with myself because I knew that when we would go back to training, we would have to start from square one, like pre-season.
I would run five or six miles around the beach, but it was not as demanding as the training with the club.
Did you then feel the difference when you got back to training with your team-mates?
Yes, of course. It’s not the same to go for a jog than playing football. During a game, you have to sprint, change the pace, stop, jump, there is contact with other players, etc.
Now I feel fully fit and with thanks to god we are fit and enjoying every moment.
So, are you in line to play against Norwich?
Well, I don’t know yet. We are training and preparing for the game. I am just trying to give my best and then the manager will decide.
With thanks to Alberto Navio for his help with translating the interview.
