Norwich striker Nelson Oliveira has turned up the heat under next Sunday’s East Anglian derby against the Blues at Portman Road by claiming the Canaries are “a better club” than Town with “better players”.
Portuguese international frontman Oliveira, 26, provided Blues boss Mick McCarthy with material for his pre-match team-talk having scored Norwich’s late equaliser after coming on as a sub during Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Hull City.
"I know it’s an important match for us and for the fans because it’s a derby, and we go there to win the game because we are better than them, we have better players than them, we are a better club than them, so we go there for the win,” he told The Pink ‘Un.
"I’ve played in a few derbies in Portugal. To be fair in every country I have been I’ve played in derbies. Even at Nottingham Forest I played against Derby, and that’s a massive derby as well.
"I think personally they are the games I prefer to play. I prefer to play in tough games over easy games because in easy games even if you don’t want it, your motivation is good — just not as good as if it’s a derby or a massive game. It’s the passion — and I enjoy playing in them.”
Oliveira, who has scored five goals this season, is yet to feature in an East Anglian derby having joined the Canaries after last year’s Portman Road game and been injured for the Carrow Road meeting, both matches ending in 1-1 draws.
Sunday's game, which kicks off at midday, is being shown live on Sky Sports.