Game time may have been limited for Ivo Pinto during his final season at Norwich City but the right-back assured Daniel Farke he wouldn’t be a disruptive figure.
The 29-year-old only made five appearances and the last of those came in a narrow League Cup loss at Bournemouth in October. Pinto continued to train with the eventual champions though and joined in with the club's title celebrations.
"You can ask Daniel, the first conversation we had I told him I'm a team player and I will never do anything to harm the team, I will do everything I can to help," the Portuguese full-back said.
"This season was the same, although I was not playing. Of course as a player you want to be playing and to be happy but at some point you just need to embrace it and help the others because they were doing fantastic.
"When we look back, Grant (Hanley) was not playing, Timm (Klose) was not playing and we had Max, Jamal, Ben Godfrey and Zimbo doing a fantastic job, so I was happy for them and tried to help them as much as I could."
MORE: Pinto grateful to Canaries for chance to say a proper goodbye
Pinto also thanked sporting director Stuart Webber for his open communication during this season, ahead of his contract expiring this summer, talking to clubs in Turkey during January but not sealing a move.
After 94 appearances the defender played in Monday's charity game in honour of Wes Hoolahan and Russell Martin, allowing him a chance to say goodbye to fans at Carrow Road.
"I have to say, Stuart Webber, I think he made big changes in this club and the way he looks at football and the players is something else," he continued.
"He tries to give credit as much as he can to the players and I am truly grateful for that, that he gave this to me.
"It was really good, when you feel the love of the supporters when you are in the last day of the club, it shows that although I was not playing this season they knew I gave everything I could to this club. I really love this club and I am really happy for that."
Pinto believes City are heading in the right direction with Farke and Webber in charge, adding: "I think we should keep playing the way we play, I think our football is fantastic and the way we play, if we do that I think we have a good chance to have a very good season again."
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