Guillemenot back 'home' for Youth League finale
Thursday, April 20, 2017
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Swiss forward Jeremy Guillemenot will be the focus of attention for the locals when Barcelona play Salzburg in the UEFA Youth League semi-finals in Nyon.
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When Barcelona walk out to play Salzburg in the first UEFA Youth League semi-final on Friday, kick-off 13:00CEST, there will be few prouder players in the Blaugrana ranks than Jeremy Guillemenot.
The match at Nyon's Colovray Stadium has extra significance for the forward, who grew up in nearby Geneva and registered six goals in 22 appearances for local club Servette as they finished top of the Swiss third tier last season.
A move to the Camp Nou followed in July, with Guillemenot immediately getting to work with the Under-19s. He wasted little time in making an impact, scoring against Celtic in Barcelona's 2016/17 UEFA Youth League opener – one of three goals he managed en route to finals weekend.
On facing Salzburg in the semi-finals ...
Just like the team, I'm in a positive mood. We've played so many games to get to this stage, so we're happy with our journey, but we still have the match against Salzburg to come and possibly a final as well. We're taking it game by game and we'll be ready for Friday.
On being 'back home' ...
It'll be emotional. My whole family and many of my friends will be there, which might be strange, but it will only bring happiness and have a positive influence.
Colovray is a ground I'm familiar with, because last year at Servette we were crowned champions here before the end of the campaign. I only have happy memories.
On receiving phone calls asking for tickets ...
Yes, I've had a few, but I'm trying to focus on the match, so I told my sister that I had this many tickets available and that she should take care of them. I'm just focused on Friday.
On his decision to leave Servette for Barcelona last summer ...
I didn't go to Barcelona just for the badge and because they're Barcelona. It was because they convinced me when they spoke to me about it. They're a strong club with lots of qualities and everything a player needs to get even better. I'd recommend joining Barcelona to any player because it's a magical experience and it's really another world. No other word describes it better than 'magical'.
On training every day at the famed La Masia academy ...
There are moments when I don't realise that I'm actually here. There are times when I wake up in the morning and tell myself I'm living a dream. When I go to train at La Masia every day, I do so with a smile on my face and hungry to work hard.