WAT A HERO
Dillon: My new mate Kuate’s confidence has given United players a lift at a crucial time
SEAN DILLON reckons Wato Kuate didn’t need his 30-yard thunderbolt to boost his confidence – because he already believes he’s the best midfielder in the world.
The Portuguese star is quickly becoming a Dundee United cult hero and scored a spectacular first goal for the club in the 3-0 play-off quarter-final second-leg win over Morton on Friday.
But while Kuate lit up Tannadice that night, Dillon admitted the colourful character is also brightening up the club off the park with his wacky interviews.
Yet despite coming out with bullish statements and being loud in front of the cameras, Dillon says he is quieter on the training ground and in the dressing room.
Kuate, who has had spells in Greece and Turkey, has played just five games for United since making his debut at the end of last month. But Dillon reckons he has joined at a crucial time.
The 21-year-old, who was born in Cameroon, claimed he heard a voice in the crowd telling him to shoot before netting a screamer he later said was normal for him.
And ahead of tonight’s play-off semi-final first leg against Falkirk, Dillon said: “I don’t think Wato needs any more confidence but his goal will have done him a lot of good anyway.
“His interviews are different, that’s for sure, but it’s a bit of craic.
“I heard he told our club TV that when he’s match fit he’s the best player in that position in the world. For him to say it, he must believe he can be.
“I got chatting to him before and I think, when he went to Man City, he said he’d been at Juventus and AC Milan and had options to go elsewhere. He chose Man City. Obviously it hasn’t worked out for him but he looks good enough.
“His interviews are interesting, it makes a difference from someone just saying, ‘We’ll see how things go’ and all the usual stuff.
“Can you imaging me saying I heard a voice in the crowd and the goal was a gift to them – the biggest gift I give them is keeping the ball in play.
“But it’s great. He’s a character and has done well since coming in. He’s pretty chilled out, nothing has seemed to faze him and the gaffer thinks he’s done well enough to be playing.
“It’s really good to have a new signing, someone fresh, at this time of the season. We’ve had a few injuries lately so it’s good to add a player so late on in the season.
“I’ve had a few car trips with him trying to get to know him better and he’s a nice fella. If anything, he’s probably a lot quieter in training than he is in his interviews.
“He’s pretty quiet actually. He’ll speak on the pitch and sometimes he gets a bit carried away with some of his shouts.
“You do your best to make him feel comfortable, make sure he has whatever he needs. You try to do that with everybody, whether somebody is on trial for a day or week – or if they’ve just signed.
“It’s a professional respect thing. And you just pass it on because you never know when you’re going to be the one going into a new dressing room, even moving to a different country.
“When I first came over people were having the craic and a laugh – and I had no idea what was going on. So God only knows what he makes of it all.”
United boss Ray McKinnon would love to see his man come up with another wonder strike as he rejected claims from Falkirk technical director Alex Smith that the Bairns’ play-off experience last season gives them an advantage.
Falkirk crashed to Kilmarnock in the Final and Smith said: “I would like to think our experience will be an advantage.”
But McKinnon said: “I don’t think that will matter at all. They are probably saying that to convince themselves that is the case.
“But I believe what has gone before is immaterial. What we will be doing is focusing on ourselves and our own performance. Nothing else matters to us.”