Miko Virtanen on his Elgin City move

Highland News & Media

Elgin City summer signing and former Aberdeen and Finland under-21 international Miko Virtanen talks about joining the Borough Briggs club and what he can bring to their League 2 challenge.

Transcript

00:00It's been great. From staff to the players, they've been really good with me.

00:04The first few weeks have been hard, obviously, with pre-season and the game's now starting up,

00:09but I've enjoyed it. It was nice to be in front of the crowd today to play,

00:15get my first feel of playing at Elgin. It's been very positive. I'm looking forward to the season.

00:20I know a few. A couple of them were at Aberdeen at the same time as I.

00:24I know Mark Gile, Jack, Lyle, a couple of the others.

00:31It was quite easy to come into the team, but even then, the lads have been great just from the start.

00:36It feels like I've been here for years already, so they're a great bunch of lads.

00:42I'm glad to be involved.

00:43Technically speaking, this is the lowest level you've played in Scottish football.

00:47You've never played League Two before.

00:49Do you feel with the set-up here at Elgin and with the players on the park,

00:52that club can go higher than this level?

00:55Definitely. It's a very professional set-up, obviously, for a part-time side.

01:02I've been at all sorts of clubs where it's been really professional,

01:05and then it's sort of been quite old-school.

01:08I think Elgin's definitely on the professional side.

01:11The detail that we go into, the quality of players, the fitness levels of the players,

01:16have been very impressive from the get-go.

01:18So, no, I don't look at it as a low-level or anything.

01:23The quality of players are really good here compared to any of the teams I've been at.

01:27So, no, it's been an easy thing to join into the team today.

01:31The gaffer spoke to my agent and then was obviously keen to get on the phone with me

01:35to see what my thoughts were.

01:37It must have been an hour or so we were on the phone for.

01:40He was explaining how I'd fit into Elgin, what Elgin's all about,

01:45the objectives they had last season, what the objectives are this season.

01:49So, it was all a challenge that I was really keen to be involved in,

01:53and I feel like I'm a part that can really help the team progress,

01:58and that's what I'm hoping to do this season.

02:00And from the get-go, the manager and the lads have been, like I said, impressive.

02:04So, it was an easy decision for me.

02:06I'm one of those old-school players who just likes defending, slaying about.

02:10I'll keep it simple.

02:12I don't think I'll try anything that I know I'm not too good at.

02:14So, no, if I can just help the team in any way,

02:17whether that is the defensive side or maybe it's by being vocal

02:20or helping the lads with my experience or just whatever way I can help,

02:24even if it's to be in goal, you know, I don't mind.

02:27But it's a nice feeling to have, you know, the backing from the manager

02:31to want me to be here.

02:32And I just hope I can repay it with the performances this season.

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