Pedersen puzzled over freeze fuss
Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen admits he cannot understand the
fuss over the big freeze, labelling the recent postponements as
"strange".
The Norway international is used to to sub-zero temperatures
and cannot understand why British people are making such a big deal
of the recent spell of bad weather.
Pedersen cannot wait to get started in the rearranged Carling
Cup semi-final first leg against Aston Villa on Thursday night
after scoring in the 4-1 defeat by Manchester City in the Premier
League on Monday.
He said: "The weather is no problem for me, though I do think
it is strange that games are called off just because there is a
little bit of snow around the stadiums.
"In Norway you can hardly see the stadium because of the snow
when you are making your way there.
"But that is the way it is, as long as the pitch is green and
playable I just want to play football.
"I've had an up and down season, there was a spell when I
wasn't playing which you are never happy about.
"If you are happy sitting on the bench then you are doing the
wrong job, you might as well start shuffling snow or something.
"I think my form in the last few weeks has been good and I
want to continue that and hopefully get some more goals as well."
Blackburn are facing their sixth semi-final in eight years
and Pedersen is desperate to pick up a winners' medal for a change.
"Wembley is one of the most famous stadiums in the world, "
he said. "I've been there once before to watch a game - Arsenal v
Barcelona in the Champions League.
"So it it would be nice to go there and play. We are so
close, the next stage is the final, so of course you want do
everything you can to get there.
"Yes it is going to be a tough game but we are confident as
we have lost only twice at Ewood all season."
Pedersen is hoping for a repeat performance of the home
league victory against Villa rather than an action replay of their
FA Cup defeat.
"Villa have loads of pace, they have extremely good
qualities, "he said. "They've got (Gabriel) Agbonlahor and (John)
Carew is strong while (Ashley) Young and (Stuart) Downing deliver
the ball well.
"They have good players, there is no doubt, but it is not
impossible to beat them as we have shown before.
"We have to try to exploit their weakness and play to our
strengths and punish them when we get the chance."