Ba Wants Champions Lge Video Exclusive

French media organisation L’Equipe published this video on their website on Sunday 8^th January, an indepth look into Newcastle United featuring Demba Ba, with additional contributions from  Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheick Tiote.

For those like me who watched the girls playing netball in the schoolyard out of the window instead of concentrating during French lessons, here is a transcript thanks to our French correspondent ‘Pierre’.

DB: “To succeed in being different and scoring goals in the best league in the world has made me very proud”.

Voice over: Demba Ba was almost unknown to the public but after joining Rouen then Moucron then Hoffenheim, he is today the top scorer at Newcastle with 15 goals in as many matches, who would have believed it?

HBA:  “he has surprised everyone, he has really surprised me, he had not played very much but he has seized the moment… I hope it will continue for him”.

DB:  “I am not really looking for the recognition from clubs, nor do I look to prove anything to the clubs or the people who did not take their chance on me when I was younger, I have a desire to play at the highest level and Champion league matches, watching them on Wednesday nights on my settee is alright for 2 minutes but it would be nice for me to find myself on the pitch instead”.

HBA:  “He works very hard and does lots of extras, weight training, he really wants to progress and improve every time and it pays”.

CT:  “He is a good bloke who works a lot, who is very religious, well then I am not surprised that he performs”.

DB:  “When I see where I am at and all I have done to be here, I don’t regret anything.  Here there is no pressure, we play and all that counts is the 90 minutes on the pitch. Everything that happens before or after is just silly talk, it’s nothing. You have the impression that it does not really count”.

HBA:  ”We are close as there is not really a lot of French in the team….”.

DB:  “Yohan and Hatem are two people I get on with really well and have common points with..erh  yeah  two people I appreciate..”.

Voice over: All together United more than ever, Demba Ba and Co have transformed the English club where the humour reigns and is probably the key to success. Even the Red Devils of Manchester United are remembered at the table football… 3-0!

No doubt someone will find some mischief to be made from amongst the chatter and for example I see nothing wrong with Ba talking about wanting to play Champions League football…that is what all Premier League players, especially ours, should aspire to.

Not too sure though about Hatem and his ‘..not really a lot of French in the team…’!