#PLStories- Southampton ace Romain Perraud on positive mind, Livramento and English life #SAINTSFC
Premier League Museum Admin 
Romain Perraud
Romain Perraud insists there were “two decisions” he could have made when struggling to make Ralph Hasenhuttl’s XI early in his first season in English football. One – to become disillusioned – would have been easy for the Frenchman, away from his family, friends and beloved partner in a new country. The other takes a sense of calm derived from self-belief, ready introspection and a willing to work. “You can be not happy and angry, or you can learn,” the 24-year-old summer arrival simply put to the Daily Echo. Perraud, signed from Stade Brest for around £10million, started three of the first four Premier League games – but just three of the next 14 as Kyle Walker-Peters began to strangle that left side.
Romain Perraud said: “When I arrived I needed to adapt to this championship, to the Premier League. It was a big difference with the French first division and Premier League. I began the first two games and after I was on the bench. When you’re on the bench, you have two decisions. You can be not happy and angry at training or you can learn. In my mindset, I have to learn everything every day. When you’re on the bench, you watch your teammates and you have to learn okay I need to do this, I need to improve this. This is my mindset and the season is very long, it is not a sprint but more of a marathon. Hopefully I have the chance to play and to give everything for my club.”
It was Perraud who replaced the distraught 19-year-old on the day – and it thrusts him into a more significant role, with Walker-Peters now needed on his usual side.
Romain Perraud said: “I was very sad for Tino because when I came onto the pitch against Brighton I was shocked. He will come back for sure because he is very, very good. So I have thought for him. For me, there is Thierry Small on my position as well. If I am good, I will play – if I am not good, I will not play. I can be the only one on the position and still you have to prove on the pitch. Next season I have to do more. I am looking forward to the next season as well.”
Things should get easier off the pitch for Perraud, with his girlfriend – who had been living in France for work – set to make a permanent move to England.
Romain Perraud said: “From July we will be together definitely. It will be a good year for me for the next season. It was not easy but you know, when you play football and you have been making sacrifices for a long time, what you have to do to be on the top. I love England. I love the culture and the passion for the football. I live in Winchester, a quiet city and it is not so far from Southampton or London. When you have a day off you can take time to discover different places. This is good for me, my girlfriend and my family as well.”
About The Author
