N´Zonzi insists survival is key

Blackburn midfielder Steven N’Zonzi has insisted the club are prioritising survival in the Premier League.

Chris Samba, Roque Santa Cruz, Brett Emerton and Ryan Nelsen have all left Rovers in recent times with the side struggling in a relegation battle, but the 23-year-old N’Zonzi maintains that it is a fight that they can win.

Club captain Samba left for Anzhi Makhachkala in January and N’Zonzi admitted the centre-back has been a big miss.

“We will miss him for sure,” N’Zonzi told The Independent.

“He was a key player, but he’s gone and we have to deal with it.”

“He had his own reasons (for leaving) and to be honest I didn’t try to know too much about that. Everyone makes their own decisions. We’ll stay friends, no problem.”

“(At Blackburn) everyone is aware that we need each other right now. We are going to work together, talk to each other and try to help each other. We’ll need to do this if we are going to survive in this league.”

The midfielder has been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea in the past and likened to former Gunners hero Patrick Vieira, but – although the Frenchman was an inspiration to him – N’Zonzi said that he is just a young player trying to improve.

“It is true many people have said that I remind them of Vieira,” the Colombes-born player conceded.

“He was a very good player. Everyone was looking to be like Vieira. He was a big, big player. I’m just beginning, I am a little player compared with him.”

The former French Under-21 international has also drawn praise from his own manager, with Steve Kean arguing that N’Zonzi was the player who Blackburn most missed in their February defeat to Manchester City.

N’Zonzi said of the comment: “I don’t feel any pressure from that. I just try to do my best like any other player. It’s true I like to pass the ball as much as I can. If that’s good for the team then I am happy.”