Jokanvic’s warning to young Ryan
FULHAM’S teen starlet Ryan Sessegnon must be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifices in order to become one of the very best in the game, his manager, Slavisa Jokanovic, has said.
Sessegnon, who turned only 16 in May, has set tongues wagging this season with a string of impressive displays for the Championship side.
The left-back scored in Fulham’s FA Cup third-round victory against Cardiff to to become one of the youngest players to hit the back of the net in the history of the tournament, while he also scored in the 4-1 thrashing of Hull.
Arsenal and Liverpool are said to be leading the chase to land his services, and with Tottenham heading to Craven Cottage today, Sessegnon will be provided with the perfect stage to demonstrate his much-talked about talents.
“He is going to be a good player in the future, but now it depends if he wants to be the best or only a good player,” Jokanovic said. “His future is going to be in his hands.
“To be the best in the world you have to make sacrifices. You have to forget your family, your friends, money, and you don’t have time for enjoying many things.
“He is a fantastic project of the football club. I will try and help him in the right direction.”
Sessegnon attends the Coombe Boys’ School which is across the road from Fulham’s training HQ in Motspur Park. He joined Fulham as a nine-year-old, and his twin brother Steven is also part of the club’s academy.
Jokanovic handed Sessegnon his debut against Leyton Orient in the EFL Cup in August, and from there he has not looked back.
Later that month, the teenager became the Championship’s youngest scorer in Fulham’s 2-2 draw against Cardiff, and he has 17 outings under his belt this season.
“He is a kid, but right now I treat him like an adult, too,” Jokanovic added. “The first time I worked with him, he was recommended to me. I said ‘15? Okay’. I wasn’t sure this was a good decision.
“Last season he was working only one or two days with us, but after a few minutes you can tell this player is good and he makes it look easy.”