Jermain Defoe Interview - adidas adizero Prime

Jermain Defoe Interview - adidas adizero Prime

As part of the adizero Speed challenge, Jermain Defoe spoke exclusively to the SoccerBible to give us the lowdown on the brand new adidas F50 adizero Prime football boots.

Defoe is one of the lead players for the adidas F50, so we were keen to hear his opinions on the latest addition to the range - the adizero Prime the lightest ever football boot! But we also couldn't resist hearing what Jermain had to say about playing with Van Der Vaart, Beckham's arrival at Spurs and Tottenham's chances in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup...

SoccerBible: What do you think of the new adizero Prime football boots? Jermain Defoe: Yeah they're good, I can't believe they're lighter than the boots I'm wearing now it's unreal, but good. They've changed a lot and the lightness of the boots is unbelievable, you don't feel like you've got anything on your feet, which is especially good being a forward.

SB: Are you liking the colours, they really stand out on pitch?

JD: Yeah, you know what good is when other players at the club ask me about what they are!

SB: How do the adizero Primes compare to the boots you remember wearing as a youngster?

JD: The boots have changed so much now, obviously years ago they were a lot heavier.

SB: And that really does impact on your game?

JD: I think so yeah, if the boots are light it helps and I think mentally as well.

SB: You opt for the synthetic upper over leather, why is that? JD: A lot of the boys like the leather ones but I've never had a problem with synthetic. I think maybe they're a bit lighter than the leather ones, as I've always had that in my mind. I've never changed, I've never really worn leather, maybe in training, but in the game I like that style. SB: So it's not about ball touch for you then? JD: No, because that's an excuse. If you work on your touch and your touch is good, then your touch is good. Maybe if it's wet I've heard players say, but if you're on it and you're sharp, then it doesn't make much of a difference.

SB: Do you believe the football boots you wear improve you and make you a better player?

JD: I think so, because these boots are so light on your feet for agility. I think in your mind before a game if you know your boots are right, are exactly how you want them and look good, then it gets you up for the game, so I think it does yeah.

SB: They're a speed boot, the other player at your club wearing them is Gareth Bale, so who's faster?

JD: I let him go! I'm about short and sharp bursts in the box that's me, it's all about the first 10 yards. SB: Do you have any training tips for youngsters? JD: As a forward I do a lot of my work off the ball, it's about movement which I've worked on over the years. I think about my movement when I'm at home because it's

so important, because really when you watch games in the Premier League, how long do you get on the ball? For me, being a forward what I'll say to kids is your movement has to be right, keep yourself onside and just keep moving. Because when you're playing against defenders, no defender wants to play against a forward who's moving all over the place. If I was a defender playing against a forward I'd want him to just stand and be static as that's easier to be marked.

SB: For you then, the adizero football boots are all about the first ten yards?

JD: First ten yards and even shorter the first five yards, you might be in a situation where it's a race between you, a defender and a keeper and you've just got to make the five yards to be first to the ball to finish it off.

SB: What's your favourite goal you've scored?

JD: There's been a few. I enjoyed the one at the World Cup as it was an important game we had to win to go through. I remember the one I scored against Arsenal a few years ago, we actually lost the game I think 5-4, there's been a few epic games at the Lane. Last season as well, the overhead kick against Man United so there's been a few.

SB: Think you'll ever match your goalscoring feats at Bournemouth when you scored in 10 consecutive games?

JD: I don't know I'll have to try! But that was crazy, looking back I'm actually quite happy that at the beginning I didn't know about the record. When you start knowing about records it's at the back of your mind and you might snatch at things and try and force it. But I was quite relaxed when I was there, and really to be honest it wasn't about scoring goals, it was about just getting the experience. Obviously when you play you want to improve and to be fair I was playing with good players as well that helped, the lads were making chances for me and I was just taking them.

SB: You say you've played with good players, who are some of the best?

JD: There's been loads I've played with, including older players with great experience. I've played with Di Canio, Kanoute and Kitson at West Ham, Les Ferdinand at Tottenham and also Keane and Berbatov, then for England Rooney, Crouchy and Gerrard, so I've played with some fantastic players. Di Canio was one of the best because I was young and coming through, so at that stage I wanted to learn off someone and that was both on the pitch and off the pitch to be honest, so I think he was one of the best definitely.

SB: What's the best piece of advice you've been given in your career? JD: From Ian Wright really just talking about football. I've always loved Wrighty from being a kid, and even now we still speak about movement and finishing. He's always said to me to just hit the target, he says to me all the time the way I can strike a ball with both feet I should always hit the target. He fancies me to score and you're

going to get chances in games, if you just concentrate on your strike and hit the target then I'll score. I'll always keep that in mind before the game, I always say to myself just concentrate on your strike and you'll score.

SB: So Wrighty's been a bit of a mentor for you?

JD: Yeah he's brilliant, he'll call me after games and I'll speak to him and if I've scored he loves it. He's old-school he just loves football, like when I go round his house we watch the 'football's greatest', we always watch that and watch the Van Basten one or the Maradona, it's just football, football, football, it's good.

SB: Have you set yourself any goalscoring targets for the season?

JD: It's been frustrating for me because it's been stop start from the World Cup, I took about 3 weeks off then came into preseason and had to rush it. Then I got the season started and scored a hat-trick for England and thought 'yeah I feel good that will kickstart my season'. But then I got injured and was out for 10 weeks, I came back though and played the Champions League game, got a couple of goals and tried to get your rhythm. But then I got sent off against Villa and I missed three games so it's been stop and start. Hopefully now I can get a run of games and get myself on the pitch.

SB: And linking up with Van Der Vaart? JD: Yeah in training it's been unreal, the manager always puts us together which is nice, it's been good. I've gotta catch Gaz, he's been giving me a lot of stick every day cos he's got 11 goals. But hold on a minute I've been injured, he should talk to the other lads. So I have to remind him how many I've got in my career and that shuts him up! SB: And for Spurs this season, are your ambitions Premier League, Champions League or FA Cup? JD: Everything. I think with the squad we've got now we can more or less concentrate on everything. The FA Cup we have to put back a little bit because we've got Champions League, but saying that I think with the squad we've got we can still put out a team that can compete. The Champions League is an important game against AC Milan which I believe we can win if we play

at the right tempo. In the league just stay in that top four, so it looks really good at the minute.

Check out our Behind-the-scenes at the adidas adizero Speed Week including Defoe, Messi and Jess Ennis, and see our full boot review and exclusive photography of the brand new adidas F50 adizero Prime football boots.