Gilberto praises Walcott after Charlton game
October 1, 2006
This was taken from the Independant Online today:
After last Tuesday’s game, the equally callow Cesc Fabregas was to be heard praising the club’s careful grooming in his own case, and Gilberto, who captained the team early in the season, was keen to stress the importance of not overburdening Walcott with too much football or expectation.
“Arsène has been very careful with him, not put a lot of pressure on him, because he’s a young boy,” he said. “If you put a lot of pressure on him it’s not going to be good for him. I think he can handle it. But he’s only 17, he needs time to improve and to grow. The more he trains with us and plays he will grow in confidence and very soon he will be ready to start a game and play confidently like he does in training. He looks very good in training and I think you’ve even seen at times when he plays for us, he’s very confident when he gets the ball. Myself and other experienced players and Arsène talk to him a lot, and he listens to what we say. He’s a very good player and a nice guy.”
Those warnings about great expectations notwithstanding, those who work with Walcott every day have more reason than most to acknowledge his potential and Gilberto admits: “I think he can be one of the greatest players in England.” Having been to two World Cups (and won one of them), the amiable Brazilian also believes that Walcott’s experience in Germany last summer can only help him.
“It was good for him, at his age, to have the opportunity to join a squad in the World Cup. He was there. He doesn’t need to feel down because he didn’t play, the only thing he needs to have in his mind now is that he was there because he has the quality to play in the England team.”
So far, there has been only one chance to prove it, as a substitute against Hungary last May. Friendlies in November or Feb-ruary could offer the next one.
Gilberto really likes Walcott; this is the third in a series of Theo-praising interviews.
Bert played in the Charlton match yesterday, Arsenal won it 2-1 thanks to a double-goal whammy from Gilberto. (Actually it was Robin van Persie).