Atlantica - 01.09.2000, Page 55

A T L A N T I C A 53
Chelsea management agreed. The club recently shelled out ISK 460 million
(USD 6.2 million) to Bolton in order to secure the rights to the prolific scorer.
TIME TO GO
Eidur Smári has a healthy respect for the game of football. The time he spent away
from the sport while injured only makes his current success sweeter. “I feel
tremendous about going to Chelsea,” he says easily, as if English was his native
language. “I’ve worked hard over the past few years after my injury, so it’s a big
move for me personally.” He’s equally excited about playing for his new manag-
er. “I’ve known about Vialli since I was young, when he was one of the best strik-
ers in Europe. With a manager like Vialli, the fact that he was a top striker, it will
only benefit me.”
And nothing is sweeter than watching Eidur Smári do what a striker gets paid to
do. “It’s hard to describe. It’s a relief, a satisfaction. Scoring is like a natural high.”
But it wasn’t the natural high of scoring that he missed during his injury. “I
missed training and not being able to join in with the boys. Now, I look forward to
Eidur Smári shows his quickness with the ball as he streaks down the sideline.
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