“I was just a bit excited. His celebration is really nice but mine is not as good.”
Willy Gnonto explains how his attempt to mirror team-mate Largie Ramazani’s spectacular back-flipping goal celebration at Cardiff on Saturday fell short.
The ever-smiling Gnonto is part of a young team that, according to Daniel Farke, needs to mature. To not over-celebrate but to stay switched on at all times if they are to ensure promotion.
Weirdly, Gnonto, 20, having arrived from FC Zurich two years ago seems to have an old head on young shoulders.
“It’s my fifth season as a professional,” he said. “I think it’s quite a lot for only being 21 soon. I do feel like I’m experienced. I try to help the younger players when they come into the first team. I’ve seen many situations and different environments so if I can help my team-mates I try to as much as I can.”
The Italy international forged a strong bond with last year’s stand out players Crysencio Summerville and Georginio Rutter. Both left this summer, much to the chagrin of the United fanbase, who were not happy a year ago when Gnonto handed in a transfer request as Everton circled. Since then, he has resurrected his career and his relationship with the United supporters.
“Since I came here there’s always been love and hate at the same time in certain periods,” he said. “But I know that they love me and I love them as well. They made me feel at home from the first day.
“Every time I go on the pitch, I try to put in this work, this running, this passion that they have as well and I feel like they can see it in me.”
A new four-year contract in August reflected how key he is to hauling the club back into the Premier League:
“The deal is really important. This season, I really want to find the type of consistency I feel like I missed in the past. So the deal was a fresh start for me. I know I have the quality to find the consistency to impact games and help the team – and I want to do it on a frequent basis.”
Born in Italy to parents from Ivory Coast Gnonto speaks four languages.
“At home, I speak French,” he added. “So I can say that Italian and French came together. I did English at school quite well and German when I went to Switzerland. It’s good for me. I like to speak to people and interact with everyone.”
Gnonto can light up any room and feel comfortable anywhere. Combined with his on-pitch ability he has the components to forge an amazing career, including realising his World Cup hopes by reclaiming his place with the Azzurri in two years time.
But he has to do well at club level first.
“My goal is to be there,” he said. “I know if I do things properly, work hard and focus on Leeds then I know everything is going to come.”
That’s a language everyone can understand.
Check out the full interview over here
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