Wolves: Ronald Zubar ready to state his case after waiting for ers chance
Oct 24 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail
RONALD Zubar believes a softly-softly approach from Mick McCarthy aided his sparkling introduction on the Premier League stage.
Three and-a-half months after arriving from Marseille, the 24-year-old was a shock debutant at Everton last weekend and, with Kevin Foley missing with a knee injury, he looks set to stay in the team.
“At the start of the season, the gaffer told me I wasn’t ready to play so I had to train as hard as I could and play in the reserves to try to win a place,” he said.
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“It was also a case of adapting and learning how to defend in the English game and getting in the right positions, because it is so different to what it was like in France.
“It was hard but I was able to watch the first few games and see what it was like in the Premier League.
“I’ve got experience in the Champions League and have played some important games and want to use that to help the team if I can.
“It is difficult when you don’t play and have to wait. For the last three months of the season with Marseille, I hadn’t played either.”
The former Caen defender also spoke of the support he got from McCarthy prior to last Saturday’s game.
“The gaffer spoke to me and told he was confident I could go out and do a good job,” Zubar said.
“He said I’d been training well for the last few weeks and was getting a chance.”
Zubar, nevertheless, is looking for an improved performance against Villa today.
“I was not completely happy because there were a couple of times in the second half when the winger got behind me and one of those was for the goal.
“But it was my first game and I will be better for the next.
“I just have to carry on training well and try to carry on taking my chance.
“I hope now I’ve played my first game, I can stay in the team and help them stay in the Premier League.”
Zubar admits the English game has been a culture clash from football across the channel.
“The game is played very quickly over here and all the teams play well, which isn’t the same in France,” he said.
“It’s box to box with games going from end to end.
“There are probably more tactics involved in the game in France, but over here it’s quicker and you never stop.”
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