Tottenham midfielder, Gedson Fernandes, has opened up on the difficulties of mastering English following his arrival in North London.
The 21-year-old signed from Benfica in January on an 18-month loan deal with an option to buy at the end of that period.
As expected, he has been eased into life in English football rather than being thrown straight in at the deep end.
However, that is not to say that Gedson has not made an impression in the few opportunities that have come his way, as he has showcased his flair and athleticism.
Having said that, the youngster will be hoping that he gets a sustained run in the team under Jose Moutinho next season.
The Portuguese midfielder has now opened up on one of the challenges he is facing off the field in North London – mastering English.
Despite learning English to a high standard while growing up in Portugal, he admitted that it was a lot harder to understand people in England due to the speed in which they speak, as well as the various accents.
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Speaking to the club’s official website, Fernandes said: “The coaches speaking my language is good for me and that’s one more thing that helps me. When we need to analyse something, they can help me.
“Portuguese is so different to English though. It’s a little harder to learn because of the accents. For me, speaking English in England compared to speaking English in Portugal is very different.
“The accents… normally English people speak English very quickly. It’s the same though if English people went to Portugal and spoke Portuguese. My people speak Portuguese very quickly, use different words and accents. It’s a hard language. You can’t swap or miss a word.
“For example, If Eric Dier speaks to me in English (Eric spent a decade living in Portugal), I find it easier to understand than when he has a conversation with someone from England – they speak so quickly!
“I’ve made good friends here already, I’ve got good team-mates and I’m enjoying it in the dressing room.”
Spurs Web Opinion
I have been impressed with a few of the cameos Gedson has put in so far. To my surprise, he has proven to be quite a well-rounded midfielder as he has decent passing, can dribble and doesn’t mind getting stuck in, despite not being the biggest. He could come into his own once he adapts to the league.
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