Southampton midfielder Oriol Romeu has admitted that the medals he won during his time with Chelsea have left a bit to be desired.
The midfielder only made the bench for the Blues’ dramatic Champions League win in Munich in 2012, and was injured for their Europa League triumph a year later.
He got medals for both but not being on the pitch meant there was a slightly hollow feeling.
But now he’s looking to do it from the front with Southampton as they take on Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Europa League tomorrow night.
Romeu explained: “I remember the Champions League final with Chelsea, I was on the bench, and we won, but I didn’t play in the semi-final, didn’t play the final.
“You feel part of it, and you feel proud of yourself and your team-mates, but in your mind it’s ‘I want to win it one day being there, being on the pitch’.
“(In 2012/13) I played the last game in the Champions League in the group stage, then I got the ‘ACL’ and couldn’t play in the Europa League.
“I had the medal because I was in the squad, but I didn’t play.
“As you go forward, every game is nicer, playing quarter-finals, semi-finals, it’s all watched around Europe and the world, and we all want to be there.
“Who wouldn’t want to win the Europa League? It’s a long run, it’s very hard, but we’re here to give everything every game.”
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10