Carlos Carvalhal may now have spent two seasons in a second-tier league, but it doesn’t decrease the attention the Portuguese press has given him since his first day in England.
In Sunday’s edition of Diário Record, there was a two-page interview with the Sheffield Wednesday manager, who now gives the reasons why he’s staying at the club longer, even after failing to get promotion again.
First speaking of currently being the manager with the third most time in charge of a Championship club, Carvalhal said: “A huge pride. Staying two years in a club is a huge achievement for a manager today. Staying in such a competitive league for two years, out of the top places, and staying for a third year, is really fantastic.
“Being the third oldest does not surprise me, because the difficulties are enormous. Sixth place in the first year, fourth in the second, knowing that expectations are higher in the third year.
“Expectations are one of the main enemies of managers, but we accepted the feat without fear. Let’s try to walk upstairs, aiming to move up and improve the fourth place from last year. If we do not succeed, it will not be for lack of commitment or attitude.”
Asked why he stayed at Sheffield Wednesday, despite with some links with Premier League and Portuguese sides, Carvalhal said: “First of all, at this stage of my life, being ambitious, the goal is not for the money or the status of the club. The ambition is to fulfil my role well and be where I want.
“I realised people wanted me to stay, regardless of promotion. The president was counting on me, and the understanding of continuity was quick even before these rumurs appeared. I gave him my word but he said he would only decide after knowing what the fans and the players thought.
“When the season was over I saw most of the fans asking me to stay, and the captain knocked on the door on the last day saying the players wanted me to stay. I did not let the rumours grow and I renewed.
“The desire to train the Premier League is no greater than training a club that I like and where they like me, where they sing my name, where players like to work with me, and this is priceless.
“We know this can change, but I do not swap this happiness easily, realising that one day I will leave the club, although I know they will not easily forget us.”
Carvalhal spent a lot of the interview talking about the level of the Championship, something that is always brought up when he’s speaking to the Portuguese press.
And in a rare conversation on his personal adaptation to England, the manager revealed he’s only learned to cook this year: “I had no difficulty in driving on the other side; Sometimes I have confusion to enter streets without cars, because of the opposite direction. I’ve had one or two scares.
“As for food, there is a Portuguese restaurant in town and a Portuguese chef working downtown who I believe is a former handball player. We gather in the morning, have breakfast, have lunch and snacks at the club.
“At night I do not feel like going to restaurants because there is no fresh fish or cod. The difficulty makes us create skills and so I learned to cook this year. And I can do some things already.”
Carlos Carvalhal couldn’t sound a lot happier.
