Marcelino Nunez is preparing for a heated reception when he returns to his former club Norwich with Ipswich on Saturday. Nunez became the first player to move from Norwich to Ipswich since 2001 when he made the £10m switch in August. He has since helped Ipswich beat their rivals for the first time in 16 years with a 3-1 win, scoring the goal that settled the previous East Anglian derby in Norwich's favour.
'It was an important challenge because Ipswich hadn't beaten Norwich in so long and I had helped to extend that run even further,' he tells Sky Sports. 'It was a big task but we managed to turn it around and end the run and I was really happy about it.' Nunez's celebrations that day at Portman Road were clear, waving a corner flag in front of jubilant Ipswich fans after coming off the bench to set up the third goal against his old club. 'It was natural, it just came to me spontaneously,' he says.
'In South America, when you win a big derby you celebrate a lot and that South American side of me came out a bit.' The Chile international feels he is well-equipped to cope with the hostility that awaits him at Carrow Road, having played in intense derbies in South America. 'In South America the derbies, the clásicos, are more intense, with more pressure,' he explains.
'And I think that works in my favour because I've played under pressure.' Nunez is motivated to face the game on Saturday and is focused on helping Ipswich take another step closer to the Premier League. 'Our mentality, and my mentality, is to take three points and win,' he says.
The move to Ipswich was driven by Nunez's ambition to fight for the championship and become a champion. 'I was very clear about my goal, which was to fight for the championship, so that's why I made the decision to move to Ipswich,' he says. Nunez has certainly played his part this season, bringing creativity, set-piece prowess, goal threat, and energy to the No 10 role. His importance can be seen in Ipswich's record with and without him, with a win rate of 70 per cent in the 20 games he has started this season compared to just 32 per cent in the 24 he hasn't.
Nunez credits Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna for his impact, describing him as 'one of the best coaches I've had in my career'. Reaching the Premier League would allow Nunez to realise a childhood dream. 'I always dreamt about it but I never imagined going to England would happen so quickly and being a step away from the Premier League,' he says.
'It's something incredible that's happening and it's close, so we just have to focus on each match.'