Maroan: “Every day I fall more in love with Athletic”
Maroan: “Every day I fall more in love with Athletic”
This is what Athletic's most recent signing had to say at his first pre-match press conference at Lezama
Maroan Sannado has said that playing for Athletic Club is a dream come true, although he also admitted that he needs to adapt and hads plenty to learn.
A winter signing from Deportivo Alaves, who had loaned him out to Barakaldo CF, the 24-year-old forward's full-hearted displays have quickly seen him become a fan favourite in Bilbao.
Since making his debut as a substitute against Girona FC last month, Maroan has scored once in eight appearances.
‘"Every day I fall more in love with Athletic," said the man who's dreamed of playing at San Mames all his life. "I'm very fortunate to be where I am. I feel very comfortable, I'm enjoying the moment.
"I had been coming to San Mames for many years. I had experienced it from the outside, but it's an enormous difference when you're on the pitch. Incredible, something that I'll never forget.
Maroan summed up his early experiences at Athletic by describing his thoughts after our Europa League victory over AS Roma at San Mames.
He said: "I was really desperate to experience a night like the one against Roma... Even as an Athletic fan, I couldn't have imagined that, not even in my wildest dreams.
"When I came on and saw everything I couldn't believe it. I wasn't fully aware of what was happening. Until I watched the club's video, I didn't fully realise I was there.
"I want to experience more nights like that."
As a newcomer, he is staying humble and recognises he needs "a period of adaptation, which comes with experience" in order to get used to playing at the elite level.
Maroan spoke of the help he's received from his fellow centre-forward, Gorka Guruzeta, describing it as a "pleasure to have him there".
He added: "Since I arrived, I've had him next to me in the changing room and he's helped me a lot. He's played more than 100 games and scored 30 goals."
The striker reiterated that fasting during Ramadan has not affected his performances on the pitch as it's something he's done all his life and he follows "the club's diet and hydration guidelines".
As for Sunday's clash with CA Osasuna at San Mames, he warned it would be a tough match, saying "they're a great team and they can make things difficult for us at San Mames".