Jose feeling at home at S6

Jose Semedo is a happy man.

It’s no surprise with Wednesday flying high in League One and the Portuguese midfielder bagging his first Owls goal at Wycombe last Saturday.

As he bounded into the press conference portakabin with a broad smile on his face you could see Semedo is loving life right now.

He’s only been at the club for four months, having turned down a new contract at Charlton in the summer despite being voted their Player of the Year.

But already he feels at home in Sheffield and speaks with a tinge of a South Yorkshire accent – helped, I’m sure, by the fact his sister lives in the area.

There is no doubt in Semedo’s mind that he made the right decision joining Sheffield Wednesday.

“It’s fantastic, it’s an amazing club,” he said. “I remember when they talked to me about coming here. I called Nicky Weaver and I spoke with him about the club. He told me it’s a massive club but I never imagined it was so big – I realise it is now. “My sister lives in Barnsley so that’s why I didn’t think too much about it.

“I was always thinking I wanted to come here. Nicky Weaver is a good lad, he helped me before at Charlton and I knew he was going to help me again here. With my sister close that makes it easier as well,” he said.

Semedo settled in at Wednesday almost instantly and has quickly become a fans’ favourite for his combative performances in the middle of the park. He explains his move North was made much easier by the welcome he got from his neighbours.

“In London it was completely different,” he said.

“I used to talk with my neighbour but I must pass by him face-to-face; he must tell me something or I must tell him something.

“Here, they just knocked on my door: ‘I know you are a new neighbour here, anything you need we can help you.’ It’s unbelievable, it’s fantastic.”

The 26-year-old from Setúbal – the home of another Special One in Jose Mourinho – was delighted to bag his first goal in blue and white. But he admits scoring goals is not his priority. Winning games, said Semedo, is far more important than personal glory.“We needed that three points to get back on that run again. And we did and I scored. I was happy and it was beautiful,” he said.

“My priority always is to do the work for the team. This is my priority. If goals come it’s good but I leave goals for Gary Madine and Chris O’Grady!”

Semedo talked with pride about the team spirit at the club, something which is clearly having a positive effect on the field.

“We will fight for each other, we will support each other,” he said. “Even if someone misses a pass we will encourage them. I feel it’s like a family, seriously.

“Even when we sit in the dressing room, I look to my left, I look to my right, I say I must fight for these guys because I know they fight for me all the time. That’s the feeling at this club.”

Reda Johnson spoke a few weeks ago about the special relationship he has development with Wednesday’s loyal supporters and Semedo feels the same way.

“Wherever we play, at home or away, they always buy all the tickets for Sheffield Wednesday and they make the ground full, it’s unbelievable,” he said.“I love it because they give us strength. They make the difference because when I see the big crowds I don’t feel there’s any difference to play for Manchester United or Liverpool.

“I do not feel there is any difference because these fans are so good. It’s a big club.”

Creg
Owls Alive
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