Ipswich Town: Axel Tuanzebe reveals why he moved to Portman Road
Axel Tuanzebe revealed his delight to seal a move to Ipswich Town after a brief trial period at the club.
The Blues were looking to add a centre-back to their squad after confirming the arrival of striker Dane Scarlett shortly before deadline day. However, it was later revealed that they were in discussions with Tuanzebe, who was a free agent.
As a result, the 25-year-old attended Town’s 3-2 win over Cardiff City before spending the first days of the international break on trial at the club, subsequently agreeing a one-year deal with the option for a further year
“We finally got it over the line,” he told TownTV. “I’ve been having conversations with the manager earlier in the window, and I’ve obviously known him previously from Manchester United, so it’s good to have a familiar face.
“Knowing the calibre of coach he is, it was a good decision for our camp to come here, because we know he’s a very thorough manager. That can helped for missed time in training and playing.
“I’ve had a good look around. The stadium is top notch, the pitch is top notch, the training ground, the backroom staff at the training ground and the lads as well. They’re great and they work hard.
“There’s a good ethos and togetherness about the group. They’re very humble guys who are willing to work, willing to improve to and strive to promote the club to a better position.”
Tuanzebe hasn’t been short of interest since departing Manchester United at the end of last season. Sheffield United and Luton Town were both keen on signing him, with the latter also taking him on trial earlier in the summer.
The Hatters were unable to agree terms with him, however, opening the door for him to move to Portman Road despite reported interest from La Liga outfit Real Betis.
The defender admitted that the summer was somewhat unusual for him, managing approaches from other clubs while trying to maintain his fitness levels during solo training sessions. Ultimately, when Town came calling, they ticked all the boxes that he wanted, making it fairly easy to agree a deal.
“As a player, when you’re in this negotiation phase, you just want to speed it up so you can be focused on the pitch,” he explained.
“It’s been a bit bizarre because I’ve been training individually, so it’s not been group pre-season sessions. It’s also just the calls from here, there and everywhere, hearing ‘this club are interested’, this club are interested’.
“You’ve got to sit down yourself and really picture and clarify what you want to do and where you want to be. I think that Ipswich ticked boxes for us that were non-negotiable.
“It’s primarily playing time. Obviously playing time is never guaranteed, but you want the chance of playing time.
“Relationships with managers, sporting directors, etcetera. You want to have a good foundation, but you also want to see where the team is striving to be. What are their goals, their ambitions and their future targets? I think that reflects around the training ground and the team morale.
“If the team want to be on top, they try to find ways to get on top. I think the club are doing that very well. You can see the changes around the stadium and around the training ground, so they’re investing a lot in the club to bring it back to the top level.”
Of course, one of the biggest reasons behind his decision to move to Suffolk is his relationship with Kieran McKenna. The pair worked together during their time at Old Trafford, meaning that Tuanzebe knows exactly what the Ipswich boss will want from him over the course of the Championship season, as well as how he’ll fit in with the current first-team squad.
Tuanzebe admitted that Kieran McKenna played a big part in his decision to join the Blues (Image: ITFC)
“I think everyone who knows the manager understands his attention to detail and how he wants everything done to perfection.
“Repetition, consistency, working hard for him, those are non-negotiables. He’s someone, especially in my situation, that’s perfect for what I want for the remainder of my career.
“When it’s a group event, for example, football, you’re relying on other people. When you’re struggling in a game, you want proper people that are going to show a proper hand to dig deep for that winning result.
“They’re not going to care about themselves and do that extra running for the team. I think that’s very important, and I can really see that amongst the group here.
“They’re good lads who’re really willing to work, and good talent as well. Let’s not get it mistaken, I think there are good players here, so you want an environment where you can grow yourself and also add something in there.
“I think I can benefit from the lads and also give something here.”
Leave a Reply