Heurelho Gomes interview: Watford keeper’s Championship challenge
Monday 6 April 2015 10:06, UK
With Heurelho Gomes playing regularly at Watford and eyeing a return to the Premier League, the Brazilian goalkeeper spoke to Adam Bate about his return to action and the unique challenge of the Championship…
With Watford’s exciting young team in a tense race for promotion to the Premier League, they’ll be looking to the vast experience of their goalkeeper for assurance. It’s unlikely to be a problem. That’s precisely the role that Heurelho Gomes signed up for when he joined the club last summer.
Gomes’ status as a wise old head might seem incongruous to those who prefer to remember the 34-year-old Brazil international for his difficult start in English football with Tottenham. However, it’s worth remembering that this is the man once rated among the best in Europe in his days at PSV.
Ronald Koeman described him as a “world-class goalkeeper” and Harry Redknapp once admitted that “wherever we went in Europe, people would say how good he was.” Known as o goleiro grande - the great goalkeeper - in Brazil, he even impressed in a brief loan spell at Hoffenheim in 2013.
But the Premier League was undeniably a struggle and there was no way back for Gomes at White Hart Lane. After making only four appearances for Spurs in his final three seasons at the club – keeping three clean sheets in the process - the big Brazilian is just glad to be back in action.
The owner said to me that he needed me to help his young squad. I told him I was here to help. What I needed at that moment was to play again and to get my confidence back. That’s what I’m doing.
“For me, it’s just great to be playing again,” he told Sky Sports, speaking from his London home. “Watford was an easy decision because it’s just across the road. I didn’t have to move and that’s very important because my family is very settled in London.
“When I signed for them, the owner said to me that he needed my help. He needed me to help his young squad. I told him I was here to help. What I needed at that moment was to play again and to get my confidence back. That’s what I’m doing at the moment.
“I believe I am playing at my level. I’m the type of goalkeeper who wins points for the club. That’s what I’ve tried to do so many times for Watford this season. It’s the most important thing. I’m looking forward to helping the team for the rest of the season. I’m so happy to be doing this.”
It’s going well too. A season marked by four different managers at Vicarage Road might have been one characterised by uncertainty but that’s been in stark contrast to the confidence with which they’ve played on it. The Premier League is within sight and the affable Gomes is in good spirits.
“Right now we are going for promotion,” he added. “I believe if we can continue like this then we have a great chance to reach the Premier League. We are playing very well and getting very good results away from home as well.
“At the beginning of the season, we changed the manager three times but the team just kept together. The most important thing is to keep picking up points. It’s made the difference for us.”
The appointment of Slavisa Jokanovic, the former Chelsea midfielder, in October appears to have brought the stability and focus with the understated coach making a swift impact. Watford have won 10 of their last 15 games with Friday’s 2-2 draw at Derby achieved despite being a goal and a man down. Gomes credits the manager for the clarity he has brought.
“He’s a serious manager and he has helped in many ways. We have a young squad with some inexperienced players and he’s good with them. He’s very straight and if he has to say something then he’ll say it. I believe he’s doing the right things to help us.”
Jokanovic, of course, is new to the Championship and all that it brings. That’s rarely the template for success given the unique charms of English football’s second tier but it’s been a challenge for Gomes too despite his years of Premier League experience.
Strong league
“It’s a strong league, mate! The referees sometimes they do not protect the goalkeepers. They protect them a lot more in the Premier League. It’s a huge difference with so many crosses coming in and quality crosses too.
“In the last home game we played against Ipswich, they were so strong in the air. Some games it is very difficult for us to play - long balls, always in the air, such as against Blackburn away.
“We didn’t get the result we wanted against Ipswich but the league is like this. But we are up there and we just need to keep doing the things we’ve been doing until now. I don’t think we need to change anything from what we are doing.”
With Middlesbrough the visitors to Vicarage Road on Easter Monday, the challenges don’t get any easier for Gomes and this Watford team. However, he appears convinced that these are the types of fixtures that Jokanovic’s men relish and victory in the early kick-off would put the Hornets top.
“Normally, when we play against teams like Middlesbrough who can play, I believe we perform better than against the teams who put long balls into our box. I believe we can play a big game. Of course, it will be difficult. But we have a chance and go into it with confidence.”
Ready for the top flight?
And if promotion should come their way, are Watford ready for the challenge of life in the top flight? “We know the Premier League is different. Of course, if we get promoted then we’ll need some players with experience to help the young boys. But we have a talented squad.
“There is a great team spirit and I think this is the most important thing. It’s making a difference for us. I said after the Wigan game (a 2-0 win in March) that we need to stick together until the end of the season and you can see that. You can’t ask the players for more.”
The tests for this Watford team will continue to come and with his initial one-year deal coming to an end in the summer, Gomes is open-minded about staying with them on the journey. For now, his priority is a glorious finale to the current campaign.
“That is my focus now. My focus is on Watford. My goal is to reach the Premier League with them at the end of the season, but we never know. This league is so difficult.” Gomes now knows enough about the vagaries of English football to take too much for granted, but few would begrudge him some success after his Tottenham travails.
Watch Watford v Middlesbrough live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12.15pm on Easter Monday
FL72 Live
Sky Bet are the Title Sponsor of The Football League. This season, a £250,000 Sky Bet Transfer Fund will go to a Football League club to spend on players in the summer transfer window.
Fans who bet with Sky Bet generate Transfer Fund Tokens and go into a random draw to win a £5,000 prize – and the £250,000 Sky Bet Transfer Fund for their Football League club.
To sign up, go to www.skybet.com/transferfund and select the Football League team you support.
