Following Marcus Antonsson’s season-long loan switch from Championship side Leeds United, Rovers’ latest recruit chatted to the club’s media team, expressing his thoughts and feelings regarding his move and what he planned to achieve during his temporary stay at Ewood Park.
The Swede began the interview by admitting that the appeal of the club was too good to refuse by claiming that he jumped at the chance to join the Blues once he was made aware of their interest; “I’m very happy with the deal and I’m looking forward to this new challenge. It’s a very big, famous club, it’s a big challenge to return to the Championship but that’s what we’re aiming for.”
Antonsson also discussed how watching Rovers play on television, in the Premier League, during his youth aided him in making the decision to sign the deal. “In Sweden you grow up with English football, mainly the Premier League and it wasn’t a long time ago in which Blackburn were at that level, so hopefully in a couple of years we can play there (in the Premier League) again.”
In addition to growing up watching Rovers, Antonsson also talked about how he interacted with former Rovers players, Martin & Marcus Olsson, as he followed their careers whilst the duo were at Ewood Park. Furthermore, he detailed how he came to a few games whilst the pair were playing for the Blues. “I haven’t spoken to them before signing the deal, but I have watched a couple of games with them and followed them a little bit, so I know a lot about the club.”
The forward also confessed how his want for game time made the move to Ewood Park more appealing, especially after his meeting with Rovers boss Tony Mowbray, in which the manager specified to Antonsson, his exact role within the squad. “I have had a period now with very little game time and I look forward to competing, as it is a good squad with a lot of good players so I need to be at my best in order for me to achieve my goals, which are to play games, score goals and help the team return to the Championship.
“I’m a striker who really likes to run in behind, and I feel it makes me difficult to play against. I’ve scored a lot of goals in my career so I feel I have a good sense for goal scoring. I had a good chat with the boss and as he had scouted me before, he knew what I could do. It was a really good meeting (with Tony Mowbray) as he wants me to play in a way which suits my play style and how I want to play.”
The former Kalmar man repeatedly commented on how he aspired to help the team in gaining promotion back to the Championship. “I’m a team player, I believe in the team doing things together, hard work, so I’m coming here to help the team on the pitch and hopefully score goals.”
