Aaron Loupalo-Bi says being part of the first team pre-season tour helped him score a hat-trick as the under-21s thrashed Sutton United 7-0 in the National League Cup tonight.
Loupalo-Bi, who went away with both the under-21s and Marco Silva’s senior squad, was on top form as Hayden Mullins’ side blew away their National League opposition at Gander Green Lane this evening. Speaking to FFCTV after the final whistle, the striker said:
“It’s a dream start that we wanted. We knew we could get a result here and that’s what we’ve done. We started off a bit slow in the first half. We had a team-talk from Hayden so we knew what to do in the second half and we were just clinical, so I was just happy that it was 7-0.
“I had a spell at Dagenham, so I knew how it was to play against National League teams. I knew what I was coming up against, so I just used my experience to score goals here. Every loan experience is an experience as a player and it makes you better. I feel like it’s shown me how to play against men, shown me how to use my body and that’s what I’ve done today.
Asked which was his favourite of the three goals, Loupalo-Bi said:
“I’d probably say … I think I enjoyed mostly the third one. I feel like the ball came over and it was all about the first touch into the goal. Of course, I’ve got to say shout out to Macaulay [Zepa] for the assist. When that ball came over, what was I thinking about? That I already have two goals and it’s all about the first touch. As long as I get my first touch right, I know I’m going to finish it – and that’s what happened. So, I’m just happy that happened.”
The in-form forward credited his experience of training and playing with the first team for giving him that extra sharpness for when the under-21 campaign got underway.
“I’ve done my pre-season with the 21s and by the time I’ve come back, I’m realising that I’m training a bit with the first team and then I get the call-up that I’m going away with the first team and that’s just an experience that I enjoyed. I enjoyed it a lot. Playing with the first team, the standard, the intensity … that’s something that helped me today. It just made me a better player and I’m always grateful for that experience. I didn’t really know I was going to get minutes, but I was always ready for occasion and when it happened, I just tried to make my mark.
