Coloccini getting to grips with the game in England

Nov 7 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

Whether Coloccini’s wages – believed to be in the region of £80,000-a-week – also had something to do with his decision not to head for the exit is a moot point. He has stayed and is as committed as anyone else.

He added: “That was all I thought about in the summer. I really hope we can go straight back up and I’m confident we will. To get Newcastle back up would be a big achievement.

“It wouldn’t be the greatest achievement of my career because we shouldn’t be in the Championship anyway, but it would give me a lot of satisfaction to win promotion with this team. We have a strong togetherness.

“It is so important for the city because I know how big a part of the city the football team is. We recognise that and we want to make up for getting relegated.”

When Coloccini signed from Deportivo La Coruna for £10.6m in July last year he was an unwitting pawn in a political game which would eventually cause uproar, division and recrimination with Kevin Keegan’s departure as manager.

It had nothing to do with him, but at times he has suffered because of it. As well as the usual problems of acclimatisation, Coloccini was perceived as an expensive Dennis Wise signing who flopped.

To an extent he has, but his importance to the team this season was obvious when the defence played so badly without him during last month’s nervy dip in form.

He said: “I’m very happy with the start to the season. I feel it has gone well for myself and the team and it’s very pleasing to be on top of the table.

“We have had a good start, but I don’t think we should get too excited. We haven’t achieved anything yet so we shouldn’t receive too much praise either. There is a long way to go this season, it’s still early days. If we can keep it going we will deserve praise then, not now.

“The hardest thing has been adapting to the physical side of the game in England, it was a bit of a shock when I came last year. There is a lot of physical contact and it is a lot rougher than La Liga. It took me a bit of time to get used to it, but I learnt a lot last year and got a feel for the speed and the style of play.

“As a defender, you take a lot of kicks and elbows, you are constantly in a battle with the centre forward. The referee doesn’t see a lot of it. It is even tougher in the Championship.

“I’ve had to learn to cope with it and stand up for myself. I’m comfortable doing that after the experience of last year. I’m not worried by it now.”

Significantly, he is also happy playing under Chris Hughton. He said: “All managers are different, they all have different ways of doing things, but Chris is a good person. He has a very good character, a good man. He is honest and you can respect him. That is very important for me.”

Coloccini, though, did not sign for a Championship club. He signed for a club he believed would challenge for European competitions and it is, despite everything, an ambition he still has.

A long way off, perhaps, but Coloccini has already made a bold – some would say safe – pledge if it happens.

He explained: “People talk about my hair a lot. Would I shave it off if we got promoted? No, no, but maybe one day. We should go up, so that is not something I will consider. But I would happily shave it all off if we can qualify for the Champions League.

“It seems a very long way off at the moment, but Newcastle are a club with the potential to play in the Champions League again. It would be fantastic and if it happens I’ll cut my hair completely off to celebrate.”