The day after is always special, as a smiley Brenner testified on the Udinese Tonight sofa on Monday, just 24 hours after his maiden Serie A goal, which helped Udinese secure all three points against newly promoted Como.
“I’m happy today. I’m pleased about the three points and the goal. I had been waiting for this moment. I worked ever so hard in Austria. This year is important. It didn’t go well last season, so we hope to do better this time around.”
The Brazilian forward was referring to last season, which he deemed the toughest of his career.
“Last year was the hardest season for me. I’d never previously had injuries and I had to sit out for four months. I then came back but it was so cold and the team was finding it tough. There wasn’t much positive energy.”
This year, however, things are going differently and there are two individuals in particular that Brenner feels are behind the transformation.
“Since day one, the coach and Gokhan [Inler] have filled me with confidence. I’m a more important player now and my team-mates have faith in me too. Gokhan is always on top of me and reminds that hard work comes before everything. If you work hard, your qualities will be seen. Speaking to the coach and Gokhan has helped me so much.
“I feel a sense of responsibility because the club has spent so much on me. I need to work hard. The club believes in me. I’m in a better place mentally and physically this year.”
Former Udinese player Paolo Poggi was in the studio and compared Brenner with his former team-mate Marcio Amoroso.
“I’m pleased with the comparison with a great player,” admitted Brenner. “I’m gradually doing better and better and I think I can do even more. I think I’m more similar to Amoroso than to Sanchez. He’s more about dribbling, whereas I prefer a direct drive forward, but I’m happy with the comparison.”
In terms of his position on the pitch, he expressed his desire to get playing time off the back of last year.
“Above all, I like playing. We played with two forwards at Cincinnati and I was deeper. Here we have two number 10s: Flo [Thauvin] and I. [Lorenzo] Lucca and [Keinan] Davis have different qualities, but it’s a pleasure for me to play with both of them.”
In terms of targets, the Brazilian did set himself a goal tally, while stressing the importance of hard work in the dressing room as a whole.
“Ten goals could be the target, but it’ll take hard work. Runjaic has changed so many things, right from how he spoke on day one. The boss has done an amazing job in the dressing room, which is the most important thing. Then there’s what happens on the pitch.”
There was also talk about the importance of family in Brenner’s life and when he may get visitors from Brazil in the near future.
“My mum is everything to me and I miss her so much. She’s coming to Udine with my brother this month. My sisters are 19 and eight. They’ll come to Udine as soon as they’re out of school. I met my girlfriend in Sao Paulo two years ago. I’m happier with her. She works so much in Brazil, but she comes here whenever she has a day off. It’s important to have people at home that help you work hard. Family makes me stronger.”
Such strength has come from the desire to fulfil a lifelong ambition of becoming a footballer, with family sacrifices part and parcel of a challenging process.
“I started playing football when I was five years old in the favela with friends. I then left home at 13 to move to Sao Paulo. My mother and sister stayed in Mato Grosso. Almost everyone plays football in the street in the favela, but not everyone makes it. We work hard for this dream and know about the sacrifices that we have to make. I’ve come up through the Brazil youth ranks and now all that’s left is the senior national team. Getting there step by step is also a goal of mine.”