LONDON, Dec 5 – Chelsea midfielder Geremi will be kept busy over the next two months or so with three English, one European and an African competition to contest, for club and country. The Cameroonian is also moving house and might be glad of a day off but says he is always desperately disappointed when boss Claudio Ranieiri, nicknamed the Tinkerman for his frequent team changes, leaves him out of Chelsea’s starting line-up.
« When you don’t play you are really unhappy, » Geremi said. « But it makes you fight harder for a place next time. »
Competition for places in Chelsea’s midfield is intense with Ireland’s Damien Duff, Claude Makelele and Emmanuel Petit of France, England’s Joe Cole and Frank Lampard, Argentina’s Juan Sebastian Veron, Jesper Gronkjaer of Denmark and Croatia’s Mario Stanic in the frame. All current or former internationals.
« The club has big ambitions — in the premier league, the Champions League, the cups. It is my job to help them realise their ambitions, » Geremi, who turns 25 in two weeks, said.
Geremi is part of Chelsea’s Russian revolution, brought to London for just over $11 million last July in a $180 million spending spree by new billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.
Ranieri wanted at least two players for every position but has used Geremi throughout the midfield.
« I prefer to play attacking, but I will go anywhere. The coach knows what I am capable of and I am a professional I should be able to adapt, » he said.
With 15 brothers and sisters and three stepmothers in a polygamous family Geremi Sorele Njitap Fotso must have learned adaptability very young. He played at home before moving aged 17 to Paraguay for a season and then to Gernclergiligi in Turkey.
He spent two seasons at Real Madrid, winning the Champions League and Spanish league before a loan deal with Middlesbrough last season.
« Football in each country is different. You learn to change…In Spain you play on the ball. In England it’s more physical. Turkey is between the two, » he said.
Geremi has started more than half Chelsea’s matches so far this season and come on as substitute three times.
Ranieri demonstrated his faith in the midfielder when he was picked last Sunday against champions Manchester United and helped Chelsea to a 1-0 victory that sent the London side top of the league.
OBVIOUS CHOICE
With his Turkish experience he will also be an obvious choice for Chelsea’s final Champions League group match against Besiktas next week.
Though already qualified, a draw would guarantee Chelsea top spot in their group to avoid the other leading teams in the knockout stage.
Geremi is convinced Chelsea have as good a team as the winning Madrid side of 2000.
« No doubt about it, Chelsea have one of the best teams in Europe. We have all the qualities needed to take the trophy, » he said.
Geremi should be back from a month’s international duty at the African Nations’ Cup in Tunisia in time for the Champions League first knockout stage at the end of February. He will miss four or five premier league games plus League and FA Cup matches if Chelsea progress in both competitions.
For four weeks, however, the Cameroonian’s mind will be focused entirely on his country, chasing a third successive African championship to add to their Olympic gold medal.
These are the titles he dreamed of as a small boy following in the footsteps of his father Samuel Fotso, a former Cameroon international nicknamed poisoned arrow because of his shooting power.
« We are going to defend our title. We aim to come back with the Cup, » he said.
« These titles stay with you; they are written in history like the Champions League and the Spanish title…they are unforgettable, » he said.
« I want to go on winning titles — where there is one there must be another. I want as many as possible. »
By Clare Lovell
