ISP Exclusive Interview with Andranik: I’m Starting to Enjoy Life in England

After watching the action in the Emirates Stadium, during which Andranik was sat on the substitute bench for 86 minutes (and warming up for 4 minutes in the first half), I met up with Andranik before he got on the bus back to Bolton. The game had finished 1-1, after Bolton taking the lead.

IranSportsPress.com: Hi Andranik. Can we have a short chat with you please?

Andranik: It would a pleasure. Go ahead.

IranSportsPress.com: First of all, tell us about the game. Are you happy with the result?

Andranik: To be honest with you, I’m slightly disappointed. We played so well today. We came to Emirates, and took the game to Arsenal, and created many chances to score. After scoring the first goal, we had a great chance to go 2-0 up, but Almunia made a great save. And then you saw what happened. We lost our concentration for one second, and they punished us. So I am disappointed because I feel we should have won this game. Despite this, I think we can beat them when they come back to Bolton for the replay. I am also slightly disappointed because I would have liked to be more involved in this game. But I hope I can be back playing again in the next game.

IranSportsPress.com: Tell us about your current situation with Bolton. You seem to have made a drastic improvement compared to a few months ago.

Andranik: I think I am getting used to the conditions in England. 2007 started with a bang for me, and I scored those two goals against Doncaster Rovers in the Third Round of the FA Cup, and since then I have played a few games for Bolton, and I am hoping this trend continues.

IranSportsPress.com: What about other issues? Have you made housing arrangements in Bolton?

Andranik: Yes, I have purchased a house, and I am getting used to Bolton. My mum is coming to see me in a couple of weeks time, and I’m really looking forward to that.

IranSportsPress.com: I noticed that during the warm-up, you spent some time talking to different players, and you seemed to be having a good time. Does that mean you don’t have any problems with speaking and understanding English?

Well, I’m not really that good yet. I can make conversation with the players, and they seem to understand me. But I haven’t really had many English classes because it’s been difficult to find a tutor. But I’m working on that, and it’s not a big problem for me. I hope I can improve a lot more in the coming weeks.

IranSportsPress.com: Tell us about the reserve team of Bolton. I understand you played several games for the reserve team?

Andranik: Yes, I played around five games for the reserve team. As you know, the English Premiership is such a tough league, and I only came here from the Iranian League, so I needed some time to try and adjust, and playing for the reserve team helped me a lot, and now you can see I have broken in to the first team. So far it’s going well for me. I hope I can get more playing time with the first team, but I’m starting to settle down here, and I’m starting to enjoy it a little bit.

IranSportsPress.com: Tell us about your responsibilities in the team. Are you seen as a defensive player or an attacking player by Sam Allardyce?

Andranik: I cant really give you a straight forward answer to this question. Before each game we watch the video of our opponent, and we then sit down and analyse them. Each player is given certain tasks for that particular match, and while I can have a very offensive role in one game, I can be told to help the defence in the next game. So it all depends on which team we are playing.

IranSportsPress.com: Is there any aspect of your game which the coaching staff at Bolton would like you to work on?

Andranik: Not really. I train with the rest of the first team, and I have never been told by the coaching staff that I should work on anything in particular. However, some days I stay behind after the training finishes, and I work on my passing and shooting from distance. I believe for a player to succeed in England, he needs to have a good range of passing, and be able to shoot on goal from distance, specially if that player is a midfield player.

IranSportsPress.com: Would you be joining the rest of the Iranian players for the upcoming game against Belarus?

Andranik: I actually was thinking about the same thing last week. I talked to the club secretary yesterday, and asked if Bolton has received a fax from the Iranian Football Federation. But I was told that Bolton hasn’t received anything yet. I assume the squad hasn’t been announced for this game yet, and Bolton will receive a fax as soon as the squad is named. Either way, I am certainly looking forward to this game.

IranSportsPress.com: I understand you need to get back on the bus. Have a safe journey back to Bolton and thanks for talking to us.

Andranik: Thank you, and all the best.

IranSportsPress.com would like to thank Arsenal football club for their hospitality throughout this game. We would also like to thank the press officer of Bolton Wanderers for making this interview possible.