Football Talk - Adebayor feels the Love - 11/09/09
Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor believes his good early-season form can be attributed to him feeling loved at Eastlands. The former Arsenal forward moved to the City of Manchester Stadium for £25million during the summer and has scored three goals in three Premier League games for his new club.
"After just a week at City, I could feel that the supporters believed in me and were willing me to do well," he told The Guardian. "They sing songs about me and they love me. I'm so happy because I'm really enjoying myself again. I certainly feel very at home, very comfortable. The staff and the supporters have made me feel very welcome and I think that is being reflected on the pitch. Now I want to repay that faith and love."
City take on Arsenal at Eastlands on Saturday and Adebayor will be looking to prove a point to his previous club. The 25-year-old has bitter memories of former club's fans jeering him, and still does not understand why he became such a hate figure in North London.
"These sort of things stay with you in your heart and it will stay with me not just for the rest of my career but the rest of my life," he added. "It was strange because I was such a happy boy there. I always gave my best for the team. I even remember a game two years ago when the boss asked me to play even though I had a hamstring injury. So I played for the team, worked hard and scored, but afterwards people were only interested in me being linked with Barcelona."
