‘Talent without discipline means nothing’: Moreira on attitude, family and goals

Afonso, a training camp is seen as a key part of the process of growing together as a team. How are you finding your time here in the Weimarer Land?

Moreira: I think we’ve got a really good squad. The manager talks a lot about hard work, team spirit and the right mindset. If you want to win, everyone has to be prepared to give their all – both individually and as a team. I sensed that attitude right from my first conversations with the manager and Simon (Rolfes, ed.). The fact the club and I share the same mindset gives me the confidence that I’m a good fit for Bayer 04. The values practised here are exactly the ones that are important to me too. That makes me happy. We’re working every day to grow even closer together as a team.

These values have even found a permanent home on your arm. Among other things, the word ‘discipline’ is written there. What’s the story behind it?

Moreira: In this profession, discipline is simply absolutely vital. Talent without discipline means nothing. It’s one of the words that best describes me. That’s why I had the tattoo done on my left forearm a few years ago. I learnt that attitude from my parents and my older brother. They set an example for me by living by those values. And when they were my age, they worked hard to become good people and to excel in their jobs. Now it’s my turn to pass those values on.

You’ve got other tattoos as well. Which ones are just as meaningful?

Moreira: The tattoos with my parents’ and my brother’s dates of birth. I also have a tattoo on my forearm dedicated to two friends who are like sisters to me and are practically part of the family. My family is simply the most important thing in my life. They’re the reason why I’m the person I am today. They support me through thick and thin.

In your first few days at Bayer 04, you said you wanted to do more than the others. To what extent do you feel that this extra work is paying off?

Moreira: If you want to turn professional and take the next step, hard work is a completely natural process. You try to improve every day. But of course, you don’t see that progress in a single moment. You see that development over a longer period of time. The fact I’m at a club like Bayer 04 today, for example, is the result of the work I’ve put in since I was 17 or 18.

Apart from discipline and hard work, what other factors do you think are crucial to your success?

Moreira: Definitely your mood! The atmosphere within a team is incredibly important. It all comes down to the energy and attitude you have when interacting with your teammates, the coaching staff and everyone at the club. Personally, I hope my teammates would describe me using the word ‘happiness’. (laughs) Your own positive energy always rubs off on others. If everyone is positive and does their bit, it helps the whole team. And so far, the team, the coaching staff and all the staff have really helped me to feel at home at Bayer 04.

How would you rate your first few weeks – and what do you think is most important in the run-up to the start of the competitive season?

Moreira: We’re continuing to give our all every day to prepare as well as we possibly can. Against every opponent and in every training session, both in Leverkusen and now here at the training camp. I hope our fans think highly of me and the team. When they’re behind you, it gives you confidence. And then you can put in good performances on the pitch. We’re getting better and better together! We’ve naturally set ourselves targets for the new season. Everyone has their own individual ones, but we’ve also got some as a team. We’re keeping those to ourselves for now, though (laughs). The most important thing is this: we know what we want to achieve and what we need to do to get there.