Freddie Ljungberg has praised Dan Ballard for his improvement and resilience after watching the defender set up himself within the Premier League with Sunderland, describing the previous Arsenal academy participant as a “particular man”.
Photograph by Alex Burstow/Getty Pictures
Commercial
Ljungberg, who labored with Ballard throughout his time teaching in Arsenal’s academy, stated he had at all times rated the centre again’s defensive qualities, even when others had been much less satisfied, and pointed to Ballard’s perspective as a key consider his progress.
“He’s a particular man,” Ljungberg . “You understand, you’ve gotten a mushy spot for gamers generally. Earlier than I got here in there, I had him with the 21s, a few of them perhaps didn’t charge him so extremely.
“I used to be on the pitch for a bit and I used to be like, ‘I charge him’. He is aware of the best way to defend.”
Ballard, now 26, spent greater than a decade at Arsenal after becoming a member of the academy aged eight however by no means made a senior aggressive look.
Commercial
He was earlier than incomes knowledgeable contract in 2018. He then went out on mortgage to Swindon, Blackpool and Millwall as he tried to construct his senior profession.
Millwall v Fulham – Daniel Ballard of Millwall throughout the Sky Guess Championship match at The Den, London. Copyright: Brian Tonks
Ljungberg stated what stood out was Ballard’s fixed need to enhance and his willingness to hunt steering.
“While you spoke to him, he was like, ‘What can I do higher? Are you able to assist me with, like, generally I don’t actually know after I come up in a pocket, what I ought to do right here or there? Might you simply assist me?’
Commercial
“Each day, he would ask me a query, desirous to get higher.”
Ballard left Arsenal completely in 2022 to hitch Sunderland for £2m and has since performed his means into the Premier League, turning into a key determine for membership and nation as a Northern Eire worldwide with 33 caps and 5 targets.
His progress, Ljungberg stated, was all of the extra spectacular given the setbacks he needed to overcome.
“He’s had accidents, he’s had huge accidents, setbacks, saved on combating, needed to go away Arsenal, go to smaller golf equipment, show himself there,” he stated.
Photograph by Stu Forster/Getty Pictures
Ljungberg added that Ballard’s character made him the kind of participant any coach would need across the squad.
Commercial
“They stated right here, I believe, he’s a legend right here already. I would like him in our dressing room every single day of the week as a result of he’ll do something for you.”
Ljungberg, who gained two Premier League titles and three FA Cups throughout his taking part in profession at Arsenal and later served as interim head coach in 2019, was clear that Ballard’s journey was an instance of persistence paying off after leaving north London to discover a pathway elsewhere.