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‘I was punished in Norwich for six months’ - Oliveira opens up on City struggles
Nelson Oliveira has lifted the lid on his troublesome spell in Norfolk that included a public fall-out between the striker and City boss Daniel Farke. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Former Norwich City striker Nelson Oliveira has claimed he felt ‘punished’ during his time at the club, stating that his strained relationship with head coach Daniel Farke was the reason for his departure.
Oliveira left City last summer, joining Greek giants AEK Athens where the Portuguese striker has netted eight goals in 11 games. His side sit third in the table and are already on their third coach of the season.
The major flashpoint between Farke and Oliveira was seen during the German's first game at Fulham where Oliveira scored a late equaliser after coming on as a substitute.
Wes Hoolahan's chipped pass found Oliveira in the penalty area and he calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net. His celebration saw him run to the City dug-out, where he removed his shirt and remonstrated with City's boss for a prolonged period of time.
The striker was disappointed to find himself on the bench for the game, with Farke opting to start Cameron Jerome ahead of the Portuguese international.
Nelson Oliveira has said he struggled to adapt to life in England. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
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In spite of that public exchange, Oliveira went onto feature a further 37 times that season, and has lifted the lid on a problematic spell in Norfolk that saw him fall rapidly out of favour at Carrow Road.
"In the summer I moved to Norwich, where I had a good first season with 15 goals and then a not so good second, with all the problems with the coach, as people know. I didn't score so many goals, it was only nine.
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"And in my third season I was punished in Norwich for six months, let's say, without playing."
Oliveira joined Reading on a loan until the end of the season and became a popular figure at the Madejski Stadium but has subsequently spoken about how he struggled to adapt to life in England.
"If I didn't have this bad luck, I felt I would have scored 10 goals in that half season [at Reading]. In the six months I was out of Norwich, I knew I had to be ready in January, because there was going to be an opportunity for me to explode.
"My time in England helped to grow me a lot, both as a player and a person. I have never been a fan, as everyone knows, of life in England," Oliveira told Esporte ao Minuto. "It is no secret. For us Portuguese it is not an easy country to adapt to. Here in Greece it's easier; there's the beach, the good food, the good temperature and the sun."
