Last week he contributed with an assist to Žalgiris’ victory in the UEFA Conference League match in Montenegro.
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Earlier in Vilnius, at the dinner table of “Pachamama Dinner club”, B. Teixeira shared thoughts with club president Andrius Tapinas about his first impression upon arriving in Lithuania, the start of his career in France, the title in Austria, pressure, life with his family in Vilnius, disappointment with the Cape Verde national team, and more.
The first acquaintance with Lithuania became unforgettable for B. Teixeira. The legionnaire who arrived in February was greeted by about 20 degrees of cold.
“I was shocked. The first thought was: ‘This is madness.’ Before arriving, the agent said it was very cold in Lithuania, but I had played in Austria and thought it would be similar. Upon arrival, I realized it was really very cold here,” the footballer smiled.
Before accepting Žalgiris’ offer, he knew little about Lithuania but had heard about the country’s multiple champions.
“I knew the club because it had become Lithuanian champion many times. When the agent told me about the offer, I was ready to come. The Lithuanian season had not yet started, so it was a good option for me,” B. Teixeira said.
The first months in the Lithuanian championship showed that the preconception about the league was not entirely accurate.
“When you hear about the Lithuanian championship, you think it is not as strong as the German, Austrian, or French leagues. But I knew it wouldn’t be easy. When I started playing, I was very surprised. The league is really strong, especially physically. At first, it was hard for me because I hadn’t reached my best physical form, but now I feel everything is improving,” the forward said.
The footballer quickly felt how much attention Žalgiris receives in Lithuania.
“Playing for the biggest club in the country, the pressure is always greater. That’s normal. Fans come to see good football, maybe wait for the match all week, and buy tickets. We have to know how to handle that. On the other hand, when we win, the feeling is fantastic,” B. Teixeira said.
Born near Paris, France, the footballer spent almost all his free time with the ball from a young age. He played football at school, in the yard, and with friends, and coaches noticed his talent early on.
“As a child, I played just for fun, but coaches kept saying I was a good player and that if I took football seriously, I could achieve a lot. At 12-13 years old, I started going to trials at professional French clubs. Then I realized something serious could come out of it,” B. Teixeira recalled.
He signed his first professional contract with Clermont at just 17 years old.
“I was extremely happy. Although seventeen is very young, I had been waiting for this moment for a long time. The road to it was long, so signing the first professional contract was special,” the footballer said.
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The most successful stage of his career so far was in Austria. With Austria Lustenau, B. Teixeira won the second division and earned the right to play in the top league.
“That was the best moment of my career,” the Žalgiris player smiled.
“So far,” added club president A. Tapinas.
Before coming to Vilnius, B. Teixeira already had UEFA tournament experience. Representing Sturm Graz, he played in the Champions League qualifiers against PSV Eindhoven and later in the Europa League.
“It was very difficult because the difference in team levels was obvious, but it was a very good experience. European football is special,” B. Teixeira said.
This season, Žalgiris has not managed to rise to the top of the table. Speaking about the team’s problems, the player said that different things need to be improved.
“We lack not one big thing, but several small things – self-confidence, fighting on the pitch, and teamwork. I feel we are not a bad team, but something is always missing. We have to find the answer and that magical recipe. I know we will find it,” he said.
Standing out with individual skill on the pitch, B. Teixeira emphasized that his play also depends on the actions of the whole team.
“I am not Messi. I am not a player who can carry the whole team on his shoulders alone. I need teammates. Everyone has to give one hundred percent and help each other. When the team plays well, I play well too,” the forward said.
I am not Messi. I am not a player who can carry the whole team on his shoulders alone.
A couple of years ago, he was a member of the Cape Verde national team, but an unsuccessful last season shattered hopes of playing in the World Cup.
“It was frustrating, but on the other hand, I understood because I hadn’t played for half a year at the last club. But the disappointment is there; when I came to Žalgiris, I had already started playing well,” B. Teixeira said.
In Vilnius, the legionnaire lives with his wife and two small children. “Sometimes we go out somewhere, but often we prefer to stay home and watch a movie. When we go to the city, it’s usually for the kids – we go to the park. Having two small children changes everything. Now in my free time, I prefer to rest at home,” the footballer said.
This summer, Žalgiris was joined by several newcomers. B. Teixeira hopes that the growing competition in the team will help each player raise their level of play.
“When there is competition for a spot in the squad, everyone wants to prove in training that they can start the match in the starting eleven. Today one player can be better, tomorrow another. This way, the level of the whole team rises,” B. Teixeira said.
Recently, he and his teammates have been preparing for an important challenge – the return UEFA Conference League match against Petrovac. The match will take place on Thursday at 8 p.m. in Vilnius, and tickets can be purchased at Kakava.lt.
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