The Big Interview / Editor / 15 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

On the eve of the new Premiership season Betfair caught up with Blackburn striker Jason Roberts to talk about this season's objectives, pre-season training and which defenders give him nightmares

It's back. The Premier League starts on Saturday and Betfair wondered: If we're excited, what's it like for a footballer? We talked exclusively to Blackburn's striker Jason Roberts to get an idea.

Okay Jason, for somebody like you who has played at every level from League Two upwards, what does it mean to be able to call yourself a Premier League player this week?

Wow, good question, it means a lot. The other leagues are all really, really competitive, especially the Championship, everybody knows that's a really tough division, but to be in this League is the pinnacle of your career. Boy it doesn't come easy, either - every season you want to go in and make a statement and show everybody what you can do.

It's definitely the league that gets the most coverage, and everybody is talking about. There's new players coming in, it's always exciting because you know every season there's another world class player arriving. What am I saying? One world class player? It's four or five every time. This summer you're thinking about Deco at Chelsea and Modric at Spurs for starters and there's more I've not mentioned.

So it's getting tougher every season?

Definitely. You've got better players coming in and everybody prepares better, I think the standard is always improving and better players are coming all the time. You know you have to keep pushing yourself up a level if you are going to stay there. And that's not just to win games - the competition for places has come into it for a while now because everybody has such big squads. If you are turning out in a Premier League starting team at the weekend you know you've worked hard for it.

What's the downside?

That's just gone. Pre-season, it doesn't get much worse than that. Once it all starts the worst thing is losing matches - and bearing in mind only Arsenal a couple of years ago have ever got through without losing a game you KNOW it's going to happen sometime. That's definitely something I'm not looking forward to.

What's your pre-season been like then?

It's been interesting with a different gaffer coming in but good. We're all ready to get started now. But it's been pretty tough work. They get harder and harder every year wherever you are - or is that just 'cos I'm getting older! They get more scientific so it is not like how it used to be years ago - I remember running six or seven miles and being sick - and it's not about that any more.

But it's still really challenging and this has been another hard one. I'm glad to have that over and get into games. Even then training is intense, but once pre-season is gone your fitness is pretty much dealt with, and you are just waiting to get your match fitness

Will the Big Four wrap up the Champions League places again?

We'll try to stop them, but yeah, to be honest it's hard to look past them still. I know everybody is saying Arsenal have a very young squad but they've still got quality, and I think when push comes to shove their players will perform. People also have doubts about Liverpool, but I think they've bought really well. I think Robbie Keane will be one of the biggest players of the season. Then you have Manchester United and Chelsea and their quality speaks for itself

If anybody can break it up, who has got the most chance?

We'd like to think we can still be up in the mix at Blackburn, but aside of that I think Aston Villa will have a right good go. They have strengthened their squad a lot this year. Tottenham also look strong, but of course its how all their new players bed in. You'd also look at Everton, although maybe they have not got quite the depth of squad as they had a year ago because they have had injuries. I also think if West Ham could keep everybody fit they wouldn't be too far off. Hard to say, really, but Spurs and Villa probably have the best chance.

Dare we ask who'll be at the bottom?

The promoted boys will always find it tough the first year, and I think if you offered any of them just to stay up they would probably take it. But there are probably another half a dozen clubs that could get dragged in.

If you do come up what's the secret of staying - you managed it with Wigan the year after winning promotion?

I think it's keeping momentum from the season before. If you've got promoted you are used to winning, and I think if you can have a good start and keep that momentum you will do well. If you start badly it's always pretty tough. Things can get on top of you, especially if you have some players that haven't played at this level before. I think a good start is vital.

So who are the defenders you have nightmares about facing?

The same old ones, Rio, Carvalho, people like that. There are top class defenders like Jamie Carrahgher - people who hit a really high level week in and week out. They are very well organised and its very tough to get anything against these guys. But you don't have nightmares about it - you have to love the challenge of trying to get past them. After all it's what you've trained for.

If pre-season was the worst thing, what's the best?

That's just winning games. It sounds obvious but there's no doubt we all love winning, and there's nothing better than going out on a Saturday night for a meal feeling good about it. You know if you win a game on the weekend in the Premier League that you've worked really hard for it. You definitely look forward to first three points.

Hope they come soon for you then! We've a free £50 bet for a favourite charity to say thanks for your time.

That's cool. I started my own charity a year ago filling time while I was injured. It uses football to try to keep kids out of crime - there's more details on www.jasonrobertsfoundation.com. I'm going to back Birmingham to win the Championship at [5.5]. I watched them at Wycombe on Sky on Wednesday night and they have five top strikers. Amazing. A lot of Premier teams would be happy with that strike force - how have they managed to get all of them? They'll score so many goals I just can't see past them.

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