Here is the player feature article taken from Blues News from the Arsenal game. This time the focus is on Jean Beausejour. We have permission to republish the article and images. Content is copywrited to BCFC.
Jean Beausejour is determined to make it as a Premier League star in 2011.
The Chilean international has only played a bit-part in Blues’ season so far following his arrival from Mexican side Club America on the final day of the transfer window. Alex McLeish introduced the 26-year-old gradually during the early weeks of his St. Andrew’s career as the winger found his feet in English football with two brief substitute appearances and a Carling Cup start against MK Dons during September. Then a knee injury put him out of contention for most of October but an impressive cameo display as a second half substitute as Blues battled back from two goals down to claim a point against West Ham seemed to signal the start of better times. Unfortunately his first league start in a royal blue shirt in the defeat at Stoke City was one to forget and Beausejour found himself relegated to the bench again.
But the flank man stayed upbeat and worked hard at Wast Hills to put himself back in the manager’s thinking. Alex McLeish admitted last month: “Jean has been looking good on the training ground, we are excited about getting him into the team and I’m sure he wants to do well. He is an out-and-out winger, someone different to what we have for that position.”
The home faithful got their first chance to see Beausejour from the start in a league match here at St. Andrew’s against Tottenham in early December and, after a quiet opening period, the Chilean saw much more of the ball in an encouraging second half display. And there were more positive signs at Molineux eight days later when he came off the bench and made an impact.
The winger is relishing this opportunity to ply his trade in the Barclays Premier League. In his first interview since clocking into England’s Second City, he admits that it has been his lifelong dream to play on these shores. He plans to be here for the long haul and has been taking language lessons every week to aid his integration into life in this country. That enabled Blues News to get the exclusive low-down on the player and his thoughts on how it’s gone so far. And Beausejour insists that he has not grown frustrated by the lack of playing time during his first few months at St. Andrew’s.
He says: “It’s normal during the adaptation process to have to wait for your chance. Of course, I hope I will be playing more in the future but I am not unhappy in the slightest. I am just very grateful to get this opportunity. The players, staff and fans have all made me feel really welcome and their support has made it very easy to adjust. I’m working hard to try and adapt to the game over here.
“I watched some of last season’s games on TV in Mexico and was very impressed with the fierce optimism of the Birmingham team. When I heard of their interest in the summer then my mind was made up almost straightaway. There are some very good players here and the Premier League is a very good league, the best in the world. I had other options including clubs in France but for me this was the move I desperately wanted.
“I have a young son (two-year-old Joaquin) so I am determined to make the most of this chance and build a future for my family here in England. I have always wanted to play in the Premier League. I am really enjoying my time at Birmingham – it’s a very great place to be. My family have settled well in this country and we are living in a quiet area which is really nice. I am going to keep on working really hard to improve my English as I want to remain here for many years to come.”
Looking back on his full home debut in the Premier League in the 1-1 draw with Spurs, Beausejour continues: “It was positive to get the point but it is important that we look to try and win all our home games. But the way the game panned out it was a good result to come back and get a draw against a very good team like Tottenham. It felt good to be out there but I know that there is a lot more to come from me. I wasn’t happy with my performance in the first half but I was little happier with the second half.
“The manager has spoken to me and told me what he expects. My main role is to get forward and put crosses into the boxes but he has also stressed the importance of playing my part up and down the left area, offensively and defensively. I will take on any role that the manager wants me to. Each manager has their different way of working, different training methods and the way they set the team up for games and it is up to me to adapt myself to that.”
The flying wing-man has enjoyed a varied career to date with spells playing in the domestic league of six different countries. He has turned out for clubs in his native country as well as Brazil, Belgium, Switzerland, Mexico and now England. He admits that the fast and furious nature of the Premier League is a difficult test but one that he is enjoying. “Football in every country is different. It is a more physical game in England and very competitive. Apart from maybe the top four or five clubs, there doesn’t seem to be much of a gulf between the remainder of the sides in the division. Every team is capable of beating any other, as Birmingham showed with the win over Chelsea. It makes every match a real challenge to play in and it’s very exciting. There are certainly no easy matches.”
Even the recent cold snap hasn’t had the Chilean regretting his decision to swap sultry Mexico City for the sub-zero temperatures in the UK. But as he points out: “I lived in Switzerland where the weather was similar to what it has been in England over the last few weeks.” Beausejour spent a season playing for Geneva-based side Servette back in 2004/05. The winger, who has played 30 times for his country, began his career in Chile with Universidad Catolica and a loan spell with C. D. Universidad de Conception before moving to Switzerland. He played for Gremio in Brazil, a spell with Belgian club Gent and, back home to Chile to play for Cobreloa and then O’Higgins ahead of joining Club America.
Beausejour was one of the stars of 2010 World Cup, scoring the only goal in his country’s 1-0 win over Honduras and notably putting in a man-of-the-match display in Chile’s narrow 2-1 defeat to Spain. “It gives me great pride to represent the people of Chile on the football pitch,” he comments. “It felt really good to be involved in last summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa. Every World Cup is important but the desire to qualify for the next finals tournament in Brazil will be even more intense. For the fans it will be closer to their heart and their home.”
Jean seems to be a balanced and amiable fellow indeed!
I’ve enjoyed some of his recent performances and, given a little more time to settle and adapt, I genuinely think he’s going to be a big part of our future. It’s been a while since we had a ‘typical’ winger in terms of pace, trickery, crossing ability and an intelligent mind!
What are you trying to say about Seb? :-0
😉