Trafford's first City Studios interview: Every word said... | OneFootball

Read the transcript from James Trafford's first interview after returning to Manchester City.

Welcome to Manchester City, firstly what does it mean for you to come back to the club?

It’s brilliant for me. It was one of my goals since I joined when I was 12 to play for Man City. I knew my journey would look different.

Throughout it I always believed I would be coming back and when I left on loan when I was 18 or when I left for Burnley when I was 20, I always believed that one day I would be back and I worked to achieve this moment.

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You always said it was one of your ambitions to be City’s number one. Maybe a brave statement a few years ago, but it’s clearly something you’ve believed and now you’re here, is that the goal now?

I always believed that I’d play for City and I knew the only person that could do that is me. I always believed that I’d get to this moment and now I’ve got this moment, I’ve just got to keep going.

How important was it to get time away from the Club, and develop yourself? Firstly on loan and then permanently.

It was massive for me. I just wanted to play as many games as I could and get as many experiences as I could. The loans were brilliant for me in that aspect, I got so many memories and developed so much.

Then two years ago when I had the opportunity [to move to] Burnley and I thought it was the right step for me in that moment and in the long term for what I wanted to achieve and to come back here. I’m happy that I’ve achieved it.

WATCH: Trafford: I’m proud of my journey back to City

What are those experiences like in the lower leagues at Accrington and Bolton where you’re still highly thought of?

Accrington was brilliant. It was the polar opposite to when I was here. I went from the Champions League final to Accrington within two or three weeks and it couldn't have been further apart.

Accrington was brilliant for me in the 11 games I played. And then went to Bolton and really got my feet under the table and lived every day and developed so much. The loans were fantastic for me and I made so many memories.

During your time away, how do you think you’ve improved? What’s the difference between the James who left and the one that’s come back?

I’m a lot older and miles more experienced. I’m 100 times better and I’ve improved in every aspect as a person and as a player.

How would you describe yourself as a goalkeeper? We know how excellent you are with the ball at your feet but there’s so much more to your game than that.

As a goalie, I’m aggressive – I just want to win and to ty to do everything I can to win, whether it’s making saves, whether it’s anything. I just want to win.

Burnley only conceded 16 goals last season. How do you look back on that record, your role in it and the season as a whole? They’re staggering statistics to get promotion on the back of.

The season as a whole was amazing. The group that we had, the manager, the staff, it was brilliant. The records are nice but the main thing is we got promoted and everyone played their part in achieving that.

Although in the Championship, do you think playing with the pressure to win every week has helped you coming back to City now where the expectations will probably be similar?

It’s helped me, but throughout my time away from the Club I've had all different experiences. I've had the relegation with Burnley, I had the promotion.

I had the one at Bolton where we were trying to get in the play-offs. I've had all the experiences and nothing will be a surprise to me.

We can't not talk about penalty saving either. Especially the top of the table clash with Sunderland last year, two in the same game. But before that the Euros U21s final as well. Do you relish that pressure, what's going through your mind in that moment to stand up and deliver?

Yeah, it's just good fun isn't it! You've got to do as much as you can to save the penalty and you've just got to try and get all the odds in your favour.

And you're also one of the first Academy players to progress through the system, go out on loan, leave permanently but then also come back to the Club. How proud are you of that and your journey? It's unique to you.

Yeah it's obviously extremely unique for this to happen and yeah it's just my journey. I always believed this moment would come and yeah everyone's journey is different but I'm proud of myself for doing it. I always believed it would happen.

How do you view the City group you're coming into ahead of the season?

They're obviously one of the best teams in the world. The most successful team over the last 10 years and yeah it's something I'm really excited for.

I'm excited to see everyone again, I saw [James] McAtee on Friday. I'm excited and just can't wait to get to work with all the lads and just improve myself.

You've worked with Ederson before, just tell us about him as a goalkeeper and how he's inspired you and your game?

Obviously when he first joined he's extremely talented, he's one of a kind with the ball at his feet, he's someone I looked up to a lot when I first trained with him when I was 17.

And I just tried to take small bits of his game and try and put them into my game and improve. I'm excited to work with all the goalkeepers and just push each other and improve.

We know how important family is to you. Just how proud of you are they on this move? What have they said to you about this?

Yeah they're obviously extremely proud of me to get to this point and yeah they're always proud of me whether I was working on the farm with my Dad or whatever, I was looking after the dogs with my Mum. Whatever happened, they'd always be proud of me because they're my family.

And what would you say your sort of short-term and long-term ambitions are for your time at the Club?

I don't really think too far ahead. I just want every day to work as hard as I can and improve and see where it takes me.

And just finally, what would your message to the City fans be?

I can't wait to see you all because when I last saw you it was COVID and when I saw you at the Champions League final there wasn't many fans because of the allocation but I can't wait to see everyone and bring success to the Club.