Wednesday have no limit, says Reda

REDA JOHNSON has lauded Wednesdayites for their terrific support in a Steel City Derby which he will remember for the rest of his life.

The Beninese international, who has been to Cotonou and back in the last fortnight, believes Wednesday have no limit to what they can achieve and a club of its size should be in the Premier League.

“It was my first big derby. I’ve played only one derby, it was Plymouth against Exeter, but this one was amazing and I will remember it all my life, said the 23-year-old defender.

“I hope to play a lot of games like this.”

He also reserved special praise for the fantastic following who backed Wednesday at Bramall Lane – and back at Hillsborough.

Said Johnson: “We had a lot of fans coming away, it was fantastic. It was better because we came back from two-nil down so it was a very good atmosphere. Everybody was very happy at the end of the game!

“The gaffer told us this just before the game. He said there was 5,000 fans at Bramall Lane but he said there’s 11,000 more at Hillsborough so it’s amazing to know that. We have a big fanbase!”

Reda enjoys a great rapport with Wednesdayites which is illustrated by the ovation he received after scoring the winner at Hartlepool at the start of the month.“I’m very happy every time they sing my name,” he said. “I’m very thankful for that.“Football is a very short career. It’s only fifteen years for some players, so when you hear your name it’s a big emotion for players.”

Johnson meanwhile shrugged off the controversy that has surrounded Gary Madine’s equaliser last Sunday.

“To be fair if I was the ’keeper I would not be coming,” he said.

“There were three of us on the ball! He wanted to come, I don’t know why. If I was him I would have stayed on the goal-line! If some people think it’s a foul OK but for me it’s not a foul.”

The gentle giant has excelled at left back but he is certain his strongest position is centre-half. Nevertheless he is more than happy to fill in at left-back if it stops him from sitting on the bench. He laughed as he added: “I think I’m the biggest left-back in the division!”

Gary Megson has spoken of his frustration at losing players to international duty, a situation Johnson fully appreciates. However, he would never turn down the opportunity to play for his country. Indeed he is already looking forward to June when Benin take on Algeria; the country of his mother.“When you are called by your country you can only be happy,” said Johnson. “The emotion you have when you play for your country, it’s even more than when you play for your team. Every time I’m delighted when they call me.”

Reda is looking forward to what the club can achieve – both this season and beyond.

“The club has no limit,” he said. “They were in the Championship, they played before in the Premier League. I think the right place is the Premier League. “But we have to do that with the players we have. Today I think we are in a good position to get back in the Championship but we have to keep going. It’s only 13 games, the season is 46 games.” “We had the same situation last year. In January we were second and we finished down the bottom. We’ll give it our best.”

“When I signed I knew I was signing for a big club, a massive club. You learn every day how the club is massive. I learnt that a bit more last Sunday! If we’re back in the Championship I will see maybe 25,000 every game.”

“I’m lucky to be part of this team.”

Creg
Owls Alive
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