La Spezia – Rey Manaj, born in ’97, has achieved one of his main goals as a professional with the shirt of Spezia: to demonstrate with facts that he can play there in Serie A, and how, giving a concrete hand to the Eagles’ hopes of salvation. “For me now is the number 1 goal, to achieve salvation with this jersey in the last six races that remain at the end”.
For another of your goals, that is scoring many goals, would it take more crosses in the area?
“In the Barcelona B last year I inflated the net 14 times, certainly another category, but also another game setting without the worry of having to save ».
Manaj, on loan with the right of redemption from Barcelona, the Albanian international with 7 goals in 31 appearances, after other experiences in Spain in the ranks of Albacete and Granada is certainly one of the players who have grown the most together with Motta, after such a so-so start characterized by sporadic appearances, often in the final of the race. “I have never had any relationship problems with the coach, but I admit that at the beginning I struggled a bit, I had to wait one or two months to understand what he expected of me.”
Meaning what?
«In Spain I played closer to the opponent’s area, I didn’t have to come back much, in that 4-3-3 we had more possession, we created more chances, obviously against more modest opponents. This is why at the beginning I suffered in La Spezia, because I was used to it in a different way, but I realized that you have to know how to adapt ».
What else have you understood in recent months?
«One important thing: to demonstrate that you can play in Serie A, you must always keep in mind that the group of the individual comes first. Obviously no one gives you anything, you have to deserve trust on the pitch, to play at high levels you need sacrifices and commitment at a thousand per hour ».
Also because in modern football we often see forwards interpreting the defensive phase in an optimal way …
“True: I’m a striker, my job is scoring, but now I understand how important it is to be on the pitch in Spezia: to save ourselves we have to defend in eleven, and I’m the first defender”.
At 17, his debut with the Inter shirt, the next opponent of Spezia, with what memories?
“With Mancini I played 7 or 8 games, it was a very important moment for me, my first time in Serie A, a dream since I was a child, I can only have wonderful memories of that experience”.
With whom had he linked to Inter?
«In particular with Brozovic and with Perisic, but I still have good relations with everyone, in the Inter Primavera where we won the Italian Cup I remember Federico Dimarco».
With his goal in the final, right?
“One of my best goals, in the final against Juve I scored after dribbling 4 or 5 opponents”.
The most difficult moment in your career?
“Relegation with Oddo’s Pescara in Serie A”.
In Pescara he found his compatriot Memushaj, flag of the Abruzzese and of the Albanian national team who lived in La Spezia for many years, even though he never ended up on La Spezia’s radar.
“I often hear him, we are on excellent terms, he is now close to Sarzana, he is a friend because he gives me many tips to improve me, it was he who explained to me that this is a city that thrives on football, I must say I understood it immediately”
Are your relations also excellent with your current teammates?
«I found myself very well in La Spezia, they are all good guys, I really don’t mention names because I have connected with the whole group».
Do you have anything you would like to ask the team?
«I hope more good balls arrive from the midfield (laughs). Seriously: today the most important thing to ask is mathematical certainty to be sure of saving ourselves. And who knows, maybe I won’t do it to the team that launched me in the football that counts ». –
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