Winger Luis Pedro on what he wants from his short-term deal
We caught up with winger Luis Pedro to talk about his short-term contract with the Cumbrians after making his debut against Bristol Rovers on Monday afternoon.
“I was very pleased to get my debut,” he said. “I played for 15 or 20 minutes and I tried to help the team. Unfortunately I couldn’t score a goal but I’m happy that I was out there.
“The reaction from the fans when I came on was nice. It’s a great feeling to have the fans behind you and I could tell they wanted to see me do well. That was really good.”
Speaking about how his move to Carlisle came about, he said: “My agent called me and he said that the club were interested in seeing me for a couple of days. As soon as I heard that I said ‘ok, I’m coming.’ A couple of days turned into a couple of weeks and I got involved in the reserve games as well.
“I’ve signed for the club so it was a bit of a crazy journey which came to a good end. I think every player has an ambition to play in England and that has been the same for me. Now that I’m here I want to show people what I’m capable of doing and I want to help the team get to the play-offs, and maybe something more.
“I’m also aiming to show the manager what I can do in the games that are left. It would be nice if I could convince him that I can stay with Carlisle for longer.”
His journey is one which has taken him from Holland to Bulgaria, and then to Romania before he found himself in England’s most northerly football outpost.
“I didn’t know anything about Carlisle when my agent called but luckily we had the internet,” he explained. “I was able to see everything I needed to see on YouTube and I’m glad I’m here.
“The club has a family feeling about it. There is good quality in the team and we are putting the pressure on ourselves to get in the play-offs. English football is a little bit faster than what I’m used to but I like the pace of the game.
“What I’ve learned along the way is always to have faith in yourself. Whatever the circumstances are you have to keep going. If you don’t believe in yourself then what can you expect from others?”
As for the highlight so far, he said: “I think the highlight of my career has been when I made my debut for Feyenoord. That was a fantastic feeling. I came into the team and I scored twice. The only way it could have gone better would have been if I’d got a hat-trick!
“All of the coaches there wanted me to get in the first team and it was a great experience for me. I joined them as a little kid and I actually became a man there. It was where I learned everything.”
And on what he can bring to the side, he said: “I like to think I can bring goals. It isn’t good to put yourself under pressure but I also think I have skills and speed. I do like to do a few tricks, because that’s what my game involves, and I try to be effective with the ball.
“I just want to play as many games as I can now. Portsmouth will be a great experience because we’re going there with the same aim we always have – to get three points. They have big crowds and it will good to be involved.”
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