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K리그1・2의 최신 소식을 모두 확인 할 수 있는 공간입니다.

Interview: Jeju United winger Gerso Fernandes

league 2022.09.24   I   조회수 886


Now in his second season in K League, Jeju United's Gerso Fernandes is enjoying one of his best-ever years in front of goal having scored eight, three more than last year. The winger admits, too, that he is enjoying life off the pitch on the picturesque island of Jeju. 

Gerso Fernandes moved to Jeju United in 2021 from MLS side Sporting Kansas City where he has spent the last four seasons. While in Kansas, Gerso won the US Open Cup in 2017 and was a first-team regular for the Eastern Conference side. 

His career began in Portugal with Estoril but also had spells with Moreirense and Belenenses. Now, though, he's a key player for Jeju United, a team that's looking to reach the AFC Champions League for the first time since 2018.


Interview

Paul Neat: How would you assess this season so far for you and also for the team at Jeju United?

Gerso Fernandes: "We did start strong. After the first game that we lost 3-0 at home against Pohang, but then after that, things started going well for us, and we were doing super well. But then at the middle of the season, we kind of like, I feel like this always happens - we have three or four games where we can't have a victory, and that kind of like broke the spirit of the team a little bit. So we went down again, but I feel like the season's been very similar to last season, at least in general, not for me personally. But I'd say it's been a positive overall, it's been a positive, very positive season. 

"I believe we have a great team, we could be much higher and in a better situation but that's all good. We still have hopes to qualify for the Champions League. It's our main goal and I hope that will happen because we have a great team, I believe we play well and we can achieve that. Of course, we have Pohang and Incheon fighting for the same spot and they as well have good teams and they play well. So I think it's going to be a fight until the end to reach that spot. But I have a lot of confidence in our team that we can make it. I think we're doing a good job."

PN: How did the move to K League come about?

GF: "Well, it wasn't for any reason. I didn't pick K League myself, K League picked me. My contract was over with Sporting (Kansas City). So I was kind of like, 'Okay, now what's going to happen? What kind of offers I will have to move?' And I was looking to get out of MLS because with my age, and I do want to make a little bit more money for my family, and to get some stability before my football career is over. So I was like, well, I need to move out of MLS. So either Saudi Arabia, Asia or some other places. But I never had South Korea, in my mind [specifically]. And my agent told me there was a club in South Korea called Jeju. I had no idea about Jeju at the time [but] they were interested in me.

"They ended up offering me the contract that I asked for. I knew about K league because there was (Doneil) Henry had moved from Vancouver (Whitecaps) to Suwon (Bluewings) so that was the reason that I knew about K League. Jeju found me, they came after me and here I am after two years."

PN: How's life in Korea on Jeju Island?

GF: "It's amazing. I mean, my wife, my wife my kids and I, we do enjoy the island so much, especially because we like it's so quiet and there's no traffic. It's kind of like a little bit like the countryside. We lived in Kansas City, it's countryside so it's nothing like New York or Chicago or all those big cities. So we like it a lot and it has awesome views, the weather is nice. It's just such a great place to live and my family is happy here, we could see our future to be continued living on Jeju Island. I don't know how the negotiations will go but we'll be definitely very happy if we have the chance to stay for a couple more years because it's a beautiful place."

PN: How does the style of play in K League compare to say MLS and in Portugal?

GF: Well, I think that the aggression of the Korean players, they run after the ball, they run so much I think it's what makes it much different than at least MLS because I do remember the first trainings, I was like just getting the ball and trying to like dribble one and two [touches] and they will come with everything and just knocked me out and I was like 'Oh, wow.' I had no idea they are this competitive and they go with everything, every play. So that was one of my biggest shocks [and] one of the biggest differences that I noticed between MLS and K League. 

"The way they play, a lot of teams like to play with three centre backs which I was not used to in MLS and my coach likes to play that style even if we change a little bit now but he likes to play with three defenders so I don't play as a natural winger really, more of an inside winger and I was not used to that. 

"So that was one of the reasons for me that last year was very difficult. I used to be all the way in the wing and just run behind the defence or stay on the line. Most of the time I wouldn't go inside. Here was completely different and kind of like having to adapt to that new formation, a way to play."

PN: What message do you have for the Jeju United fans? 

GF: "First of all, thank you for supporting us, throughout the year [at] home games and away games, for being there supporting us and keeping us fighting in doing our best as a team. I'm very thankful for all the people, they come to the stadium to watch us. So, a big thank you for all those people that support it, no matter what."

Paul Neat
Managing Editor


K LEAGUE