Wolves signing Berra is a speed merchant
Feb 14 2009 by Lisa Smith, Birmingham Mail
CHAMPIONSHIP teams have reason to fear Wolves’ new £2.3million acquisition – defender Christophe Berra.
Not only is the 6ft 3ins Scottish international a powerful centre-back and the solution, manager Mick McCarthy believes, to the side’s defensive problems – but he is also frighteningly fast!
As a youngster Berra was a top sprinter. Now he hopes to use that pace to frighten the teams Wolves need to beat in their final 14 game run-in towards promotion to the Barclays Premier League.
The 24-year-old Scot said: “I loved PE when I was at school and was pretty good at most sports – particularly athletics and running.
“I was a bit of a late developer with my football and didn’t really start playing at my local Edina Hibs Boys’ Club in Edinburgh until I was 12 or 13. Most kids were playing at eight or nine but I was much older and wasn’t picked up by Hearts until I was 16.”
Berra, who went on to play for six years at Tynecastle where he earned the captain’s armband, admitted playing in the English Premier League had always been the dream and insists he believes the Scottish fans he has left behind wish him well in his quest to achieve that goal with Wolves.
The centre-back, the son of a French father, Christian, and Scottish mother, Josephine, is currently living in a hotel near Wolves’ Compton Park training ground but is house-hunting in Sutton Coldfield – a suburb populated by his new team-mates.
He said: “Once I get settled my family will be able to come and visit with my little sister Carine.
“I am planning on inviting them down for the Birmingham game in a few weeks, and although Scotland seems a long way away it is only an hour by plane and just over four hours driving.”
Berra is a good advert for Edinburgh and very proud of his home city but admits he is looking forward to exploring Birmingham too.
“I didn’t even know Birmingham was the Second City until I got here so there must be plenty to do!” he quipped.
Meanwhile Berra realises being McCarthy’s most expensive transfer to date means a lot will be expected.
“I have always wanted to play in the English Premier League and I suppose that is where you can really put your career in the shop window.
“I realised a while ago that I might only ever have one shot at playing in England and this is it. I don’t really feel pressure on me but it is important that we start winning games again with just 14 or so to go.
“Wolves kept 19 clean sheets last season yet missed out on the play-offs and this year we have leaked goals.
“But we have also scored a lot going forward which should help us in the promotion race.
“We have faith in ourselves that we can put things right starting with Burnley this afternoon.”
