Birmingham City: Sebastian Larsson reveals why he's back on song for Birmingham City

Aug 19 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

SEBASTIAN Larsson today insisted he is not playing with a point to prove to anyone.

The Blues winger took his sparkling pre-season form into the opening Premier League match of the campaign at Sunderland.

And the Swedish star revealed that a spot of self-analysing and encouragement from management has got him back into the groove of old.

Blues have awarded new contracts to eight players since May, but Larsson’s long-term future remains clouded.

After failing to agree a new deal with the 25-year-old, Blues activated a 12-month option.

But Larsson said that had nothing to do with his renaissance.

“I don’t go out there to prove anything to anyone,” he told the Birmingham Mail. “I fight hard for the shirt. I always have done.

“I know the form hasn’t always been as good as it was a while ago, but I feel like I am coming back to my best and I’m extremely pleased about that.”

Larsson, whose dead-ball delivery was exceptional in the 2-2 draw and resulted in both Blues’ goals, continued: “I do feel good.

“I have from pre-season, from the start. I felt I came back fit, fresh.

“I also thought about what I needed to do and what type of player I needed to be to be successful. So far - it’s only one game into the season – it has worked.

“What’s different? Nothing really. It was about trying to get the max out of myself.

“Maybe before I was getting dragged too deep, I was getting dragged in too much and not ending up in positions where I think I can be at my most effective.

“On Saturday and throughout pre-season I felt I was finding that space I need much better.

“It’s obviously something I have to keep thinking about, keep doing and not lose that and become ineffective.”