Kerim says Blues squad are in perfect harmony
KERIM Frei believes Birmingham City are the perfect match for his talents – but insists he has no plans to reveal to his team-mates whether he has perfect pitch.
The 23-year-old spoke of his determination to do well for Blues following his £2.2 million transfer from Besiktas.
He gave supporters an enticing glimpse of his pace and attacking intent in a ten-minute cameo at Blackburn last Saturday.
And having postponed singing an initiation song expected of new signings, he says he has come to Blues to showcase his ability, rather than his vocal chords.
“It didn’t take me a long time to think about it because I love English football and Birmingham City was the perfect place for me to come so I took this chance,’’ said Frei.
“The people know me from back in the day [at Fulham], they know I am trying to take some risks, do something which some people don’t think about.
“I am here to score goals, make assists and make it back to the Premier League hopefully.
“When I first came he [Gianfranco Zola] said ‘I am a manager who wants to play’. I understand his way, which makes it a lot easier for me because I like this way too. It is a perfect match, I think.
“Some managers want to play with long balls, just put it up and get on the second balls.
“Zola wants to build up the game and get us more on the ball. That makes us happier as a team to play football and makes me happy too because I like to take players on and do something with it.
“We are not far away from the play-offs, what we have to do is just win games, score goals, and I am here to try and do that.”
Frei, who took his first steps in senior football as a teenager at Craven Cottage, arrives with a reputation as an elusive winger who can play on either side.
And he has given evidence of that elusiveness, both off the pitch and on it, in the short time he has been with the club.
He arrived 24 hours before last weekend’s game at Blackburn – and was thrown straight into the fray.
“I wasn’t thinking I was going to play but it looks like the manager has some trust in me, which I appreciate and I was happy to play my first game,’’ said Frei.
“When I came everyone was really friendly to me and took to me really well. I can say we have a good bunch of lads.
“They wanted me to sing on Friday but I said ‘I will do it next week’. I have to get away with it a little bit this week also. I haven’t thought about what I will sing yet – I don’t think I will!”
Whether or not he dodges that rite of passage, the Turkey international has no fears about settling down.
He first came to the UK from Austria as a 16-year-old with very little English.
He believes that experience will enable him to settle straight away this time – particularly because he has knowledge of what a demanding league he is now playing in.
“When I was injured at Fulham I went on loan to Cardiff for one month, so I know how tough the Championship is,” he added. “I think it is tougher than the Premier League but I can go with that – for me it’s not a problem.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a big contrast to Besiktas. Turkish League and the Championship is not a lot of difference. I think here in this league even the last one can win against the first one. In Turkey it is not like that. I don’t think I have made a step down actually.”
But he is desperate to make a step up, in footballing terms if not vocally.