Although he’s only found the net once since trading Milan for Liverpool in the closing stages of the transfer window, Reds stiker Mario Balotelli is keeping his head screwed on right and is hoping his new found focus will see him back among the goals in the very near future.
Even when the Italian hit-man isn’t in the spotlight, the media is still talking about him. Despite being dropped to the bench for Liverpool’s last match before the international break and once again overlooked by national boss Antonio Conte, the 24-year old continues to generate headlines — at least now he’s looking to do it for all the right reasons.
After expanding on the infamous fireworks incident, denying stories that he has sex three hours before a match, talking about the love he has for his dogs and wagging a finger at the English press for fabricating stories, after all that, in a recent interview with talkSPORT, Balotelli finally got to talk football — and he wasn’t his usual, boastful self.
“I am only focused on football. I live out in the countryside, I am relaxed and I just hope the time that I’m going to score is coming soon. Then maybe they will concentrate more on football and not all the other bullshit” he explained in a very matter of fact manner. “I need to get in the box more. I don’t do it enough, but it is something I am working to try to do more. I have never been a real, out-and-out striker – I have always been someone who goes around the pitch, you know? If it was my choice, I would always go with two strikers. It’s the way I like to play, but Brendan asked me to play as the first striker. I understand that when the ball comes from wide on the left or right, I need to be in the box otherwise there might be no-one there at all.”
With Daniel Sturridge set to return against Queens Park Ranger this Sunday, the Italian hit-man may not be all alone up top — and if all goes well, his first Premier League goal could very well follow.
