Through a high press, Domingos Quina nicked the ball back from Leipzig in their penalty area on Tuesday and the team’s winning goal swiftly followed. The Portuguese already showed in the friendly that his team-mates can count on him in terms of his commitment.
“I like running for the team,” he admitted in his presentation interview with TV12. “I’m really happy at Udinese and I’m excited about this new challenge. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me. I’ve been very impressed with the structures in place at the club, as they’re even better than I thought. The stadium is wonderful as well. I can’t wait to see it packed full of fans.”
Ahead of getting a taste of a third major European league, the 23-year-old looked back on the experience gained so far: “The Premier League is tougher than La Liga. Every match is hard, not just against the big six. The smaller clubs want to win too, so that serves as motivation.” Quina’s hunger for success, particularly against the big boys, explains why the team he’s most excited to face is AC Milan: “I already played against them when I was younger. I’d already heard about Udinese and had seen a few games towards the end of last season. I also spoke to a few Watford players about the club.”
The youngster also spoke about the importance of his spell at Granada. “It was the first time I went to live somewhere on my own. I had to leave my family, but I grew up and learnt how to look after myself.
There’s also a Portuguese connection in Friuli, with Beto offering his compatriot guidance on what to expect. “He told me pre-season would be tough. I didn’t take what he said too seriously. I thought he was joking! I used to work hard at Watford, but this is something else! Beto is a kind guy who helps me out and explains things to me because I don’t understand Italian yet. He always wants to improve, score more than goals than last year and he makes lots of runs, which is great for a midfielder like me, because you know you can pass him the ball and he’ll be ready.”
In terms of the team approach, Quina has been impressed so far. “Everyone here is humble, happy to help out and very close. We want to go as far as possible. My personal aim is to stay fit because I’ve had a few issues in the last two years. I want to stay fit and play in so many games. I like playing as a number 8. I enjoy having the ball and, if I get the chance, shooting with both feet. My childhood idol is Steven Gerrard. I also really like Luka Modric and Andres Iniesta.”
With regard to new coach Andrea Sottil, Quina offered his initial assessment. “He seems very calm sometimes, but then when you don’t do things in the way that he wants, he gets a bit angry. That’s good for me. He really helps the young players. Samardzic has really impressed me. He has so much quality for his age and he’s always relaxed. The funniest player is Isaac Success.”
As for his new surroundings, Domingos is settled into life in Udine. “It’s a calm city but also a lively one. I’ve visited some parts with my brother and we liked it. I love Italian food. You eat in the right way here. Portuguese food is good, but Italian food is better. I like to watch TV series in my spare time. My favourites are Power and Game of Thrones. I also play videogames, but I don’t like FIFA. I’m more into Call of Duty. I’ve also got back into my reading.”
The midfielder finished up with a message for the Udinese fans: “Thank you for the warm welcome. I can’t wait to see you all at the stadium.”