Ruben Rodrigues has expressed his excitement for Bolton Wanderers' upcoming season as they aim to re-establish themselves in the Championship after a seven-year hiatus. The midfielder, who recently helped Oxford United secure safety by defeating Bolton in the play-off final, is now eager to contribute to the Whites' return to the second tier.
Rodrigues has already made an impact with his performances for Oxford, including scoring three goals during pre-season and becoming a hero at Wembley. He was thrilled to help Oxford avoid relegation and is looking forward to replicating that success with Bolton.
‘Everyone is (excited), we just can't wait to get started. We want August 15 to be today,’ he grinned, expressing the team's eagerness to begin their Championship campaign.
The midfielder believes in the importance of maintaining a tough and relentless approach on and off the pitch. ‘I was there with Oxford when we went up so I know what’s necessary, and how important it is to just scrap out the game and just be ugly sometimes,’ he explained. ‘We had the same at Oxford where no-one wanted to play against us, and we have to show that nasty side. We have to keep going for 90 minutes, non-stop, and I think we have the squad for it, in my opinion.’
Rodrigues is confident about Bolton's chances of success, stating, ‘I think we are talented enough and we are determined enough to get it over the line, and we’re just excited to get started.’ For many younger players on the Bolton squad, this will be their first taste of Championship football, but Rodrigues has been sharing his experiences from previous seasons.
‘Everyone knows what to expect, even if they haven’t played in the league. Everyone watches the league and they know how high quality it is,’ he added. ‘Sometimes you get players that can turn up in the Premier League or whatever, so we are definitely passing that along in the squad. But I think everyone is on the same page.’
The midfielder has been receiving appreciation from Bolton’s fans for his performances at Wembley and is looking forward to making more memories with the team. ‘It was amazing and still to this day, you get the appreciation. When we were in Bratislava and the fans are calling you a legend, that is why you do it – for the fans and the appreciation. It’s a very nice feeling and it was an amazing summer for me,’ he smiled.
Rodrigues also highlighted the importance of the club's supporters, stating, ‘I think the fans know how much they bring to us. Even in the Wembley final, it made a difference – that white wall.’ He believes the passionate support can provide Bolton with an advantage over their opponents and is optimistic about the team’s prospects for the upcoming season.
