Kolkata, Striker Martin Braithwaite feels the onus is on him now to deliver the goods after Spanish LaLiga side Leganes reportedly made him the most expensive signing in the club’s history in this summer’s transfer window.
Denmark international Braithwaite spent the second half of last season on loan with the Spanish outfit after leaving English Championship side Middlesbrough.
The 28-year old came when the team looked destined for relegation having scored only 16 goals in 18 matches but helped them turn things around as they finished 13th.
“I think I just gave belief to the team. Before I came to the team I studied how they played and I looked if it was a team in which it was difficult to score goals. But I saw there were a lot of opportunities and possibilities in the way they played. And whenever I play I think about scoring goals for myself and for my teammates,” Braithwaite told IANS on Wednesday.
“I want to score goals and I want my teammates to score a lot of goals, so that’s what I aimed to accomplish when I came.”
Asked about being one of the most expensive signings in the club’s history, he said: ” I’m happy because it shows that the club believed in me and it also gives me a lot of responsibility to make good performances so now they have showed they have confidence in me and now it’s up to me to go and show them that I’m thankful, I’m grateful to them for bringing me here.”
During his loan spell, Braithwaite scored a goal against FC Barcelona in January. “I have got a lot of ambitions and I put a lot of goals for myself. I see myself as one of those players who have to make a difference, I don’t see the players there and why should I settle and say they are a lot better than me. No, I want to challenge myself and of course is always best to challenge yourself against the best teams,” he said.
Asked to pick his favourite goal so far for the club, he said: “I think my first goal against Real Madrid in Copa del Rey was the most important because it was my first goal for the club and against a big team. It brought great feelings for me and I think this is the most important goal.”
Leganes are placed at the foot of the 20-team points table with just 2 points to show for from nine games. They take on Mallorca on October 26.
Braithwaite also spoke about his partnership up front with Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
“It is difficult to say, I feel good with all the other strikers too. But I think that people may think that because we played lots of games together and of course that when you play a lot of games together you get a lot of connection. Plus we both speak French, so of course we feel good together.”
