Guilherme Fernandes: I believe I can be a leader in Córdoba CF squad

Portuguese goalkeeper Guilherme Fernandes has been officially unveiled as the 14th signing for Córdoba CF. The presentation took place at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fuensanta.

Fernandes joins from Real Betis on a two-season contract with an option for a third. Last season, he played on loan from Betis at Valladolid in the Second Division.

Warm Welcome and Positive Debut

The Portuguese, who made his debut in the match against Sevilla, expressed gratitude for the reception he has received:

"From the first day they have welcomed me with affection, honestly, I've been here for three days and I can already say I feel at home. We have a wonderful group in the locker room. There's no better way to be received than how I have been. And well, honestly, the debut was very positive. I felt very comfortable, I felt very happy."

Fernandes also praised the atmosphere at El Arcángel:

"I loved the atmosphere, I was commenting that in a July match, having 12,000 people says a lot, honestly, I loved the atmosphere and I'm really looking forward to the league starting to enjoy it with these people."

Competition with Iker Álvarez

Fernandes will compete for the starting position with Iker Álvarez, who was the starting goalkeeper for most of last season, as Carlos Marín is set to leave the club. Fernandes welcomed the challenge:

"I always face competition well. I always like a good challenge, it motivates me to be better every day, and the better it goes for Iker and me, the better it will be for Córdoba, so the better the competition, the better for everyone."

Focus on Conceding Fewer Goals

Córdoba CF conceded too many goals last season. Fernandes noted that he has discussed this with coach Iván Ania:

"If we keep a clean sheet, we are closer to winning; my goal is to try to keep a clean sheet as many times as possible."

Ball Control with the Feet

One of Fernandes's key qualities is his strong ball control, a characteristic valued by coach Iván Ania. The goalkeeper acknowledged that he has already had talks with his new coach:

"He has shown me videos and talked about his way of playing, what he expects from me, what he will demand of me, and I love it, honestly, I love that style of play, I feel very comfortable, because one of my strong characteristics is playing with my feet, I have a lot of confidence in that, I have courage, which is what the coach asks of me—not to be afraid—and honestly, I feel very comfortable with this style of play, I will feel better every day."

Three-Time Player of the Month at Valladolid

Fernandes was named player of the month at Valladolid for three consecutive months last season—an unusual achievement for a goalkeeper, often occurring when a team is struggling. He commented humorously:

"On one hand, it's good because you appear on the screens... a good match for me would be if they don't reach my goal, and then we are closer to winning. But if they do, two or three times, that I save them, which is what happened yesterday—referring to the match against Sevilla—that I help the team as much as possible and then we are closer to winning. Hopefully this year I can be the best of the month five or six times."

Ambition to Play 50 Matches

Fernandes has set individual goals for the season:

"Playing as many matches as possible, there are 42 matches plus the Copa del Rey, we can play 50 matches this year, so to play all 50, I really want to, I come here with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of desire, and that is my goal."

Self-Description

Fernandes described himself as a goalkeeper with:

• A "very strong character"
• A "very defined personality"
• Leadership qualities "on and off the field"
• Strong ability in playing with his feet
• Comfort in one-on-one situations

Source: Diario Córdoba