Fresh from keeping a clean sheet on his Gold Cup debut as Canada hit Honduras for six in Los Angeles overnight, Fulham defender Luc Fougerolles has vowed ‘the more I play, the better I’ll get’.
The teenage centre back has been earning rave reviews in his recent international appearances for Jesse Marsch’s side and produced another accomplished display as the Canadians easily swatted the Honduran challenge aside yesterday. The nineteen year-old told One Soccer during his first post-match interview of the tournament:
“I think we started the game really well. Obviously, Joel had that chance within a few minutes and we kept the pressure up. We could have had four or five [goals] in the first half. I thought everyone had a great game today and it was a really positive day.”
The Battersea-born Fulham academy graduate revealed the quality of Canada’s training sessions has allowed him to step seamlessly straight back into the senior international side.
“I think it all starts from training to be fair. A lot of the stuff we do in training helps you to prepare, so when you come into a game it ends up being easier than training. You should see some of the intensity in training and some of the tackles in training. It is tough, so if you can get to the level of training then it makes it having had that experience. I’ve been in a few camps without playing, so I feel like I’m ready to step up and play some meaningful minutes.
It has been amazing, to be honest. I’ve not played that many professional games in general. At Fulham, I’ve only had one with the first team, so to get a run of games … I feel like it is going to do wonders for my game because these games are so different compared to the academy games. I think the more I play, the better I’ll get and I can’t wait for the next one.”
The ball-playing defender gave an insight into how his relaxed demeanour on the field has helped palm aside the pressures of international football so far.
“I always try to enjoy it. I love playing so whenever I go out to play I kind of try to stay calm and I think it is the best way to be – because, if you stay calm, you end up playing better. I obviously get nervous and excited but once I’m on the pitch, it kind of evaporates.”
