R9magia
16-03-2007, 03:45 PM
Link in Spanish (http://www.as.com/articulo/futbol/siento/madridista/apunto/Cofradia/dasftb/20070316dasdaiftb_3/Tes/)
Translation:
We just heard you speaking to the people of Milan in an Italian that Giribaldi would be proud of. How many languages do can you speak?
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, English and I still remember some things in Dutch that I learned during my time with PSV. And I also speak the language of the ladies which is the most complicated (laughs).
You look happy, as if you have taken the weight off your shoulders...
Yes, of course, I'm very happy. They have given me the possibility to play football and feel complete as a person and in my profession. The way things are at this club there is no other way to be but happy. And optomistic.
Do they work more in Milan then with Madrid, and by extension, in Spanish football?
From my experience in football I can affirm that no other club works the way Milan does. I said this once I got here and the club by us (referring to Inter) got mad. The truth is it's incomparable. In Milan they give you everything so that you can be at 100%. You have the Milan-LAB, the club laboratory where they follow things daily, everything from a players fitness to lactic acid, ha, ha! Physical tests are done almost daily, there are a thosand things they do so that the footballers are always at their best.
But wasn't a footballer like yourself more comfortable in Spanish football?
They punish you alot here. Italian football hasn't changed, it's the same as it's always been. Hard, intense, with alot of hard tackles. Without a doubt Spanish football is a bit more relaxed, but the level of demand it takes to play there is similar.
When have they given you the hardest tackles?
In all the games! Here there is no way to point out one defender or one team, all of them go about their job defensively the same. The only thing I can tell you is that at the end of the matches I'm full of bumps and bruises.
Hearing you speak this way makes me wonder how, after you left Madrid, you were accused by some for having a lack of commitment with the club and with football
I had absolute commitment with Real Madrid. An honest commitment, that's the truth. I never missed one training session or to any event I was needed for marketing/commercial reasons for the club. I was the player that most contributed to the marketing aspect of the club. On the pitch I always gave my all, sometimes things came out well and other times not so well, I don't know how they can say I wasn't commited. In any case, it's not true and they didn't allow me to continue my commitment to the club. They invited me to leave one year and a half before the end of my contract.
Is there any feeling of Madridismo left in you?
Of course. I was there for many years and was delighted the whole time to have been playing for Real Madrid. The end was ugly, but I know that I didn't look for that and it wasn't my fault. I still follow their games and want them to win for my friends all of my friends that I left behind. May they win and play well and may the fans be happy. I continue to be a Madridista.
[Weird question to translate. Don't really know how to. Basically a question about Madrid's chances to win the league.]
Yes, I hope Madrid win the league. But they have it tough. In any case, Sevilla, Barcelona and Valencia are giving away tremendous opportunities, so even though Real have gotten some poor results, especially in the Bernabeu, the truth is they have a chance to be champions. But I'll be honest. I don't want Madrid to win because of Capello, but of course, for all of my teammates.
¿Do you feel the Bernabeu liked you alot, a little, ...?
I think they liked me alot, but I'm conscious that after my comments following the Arsenal match in the Champions League, they started treating me a bit different. (The Brazilian said at the time he didn't feel supported by the fans).
So do you believe you made a mistake?
Yes, surely I expressed my feelings at the wrong time. I felt like if I missed two or three passes the Bernabeu didn't have the patience and booed me. But I also feel that they celebrated my goals with a special affection, different from how they celebrated anybody elses. I always loved the Bernabeu and if I complained about anything it's because I was hurt.
Have you ever shied away from recieving the ball?
I've always asked for the ball. When I'm on the pitch just try to move around and play my game. When I'm up front alone against two or three defenders all watching me, I have a harder time and it's normal that I go a few minutes without touching the ball. With another striker by my side there are alot more options. But never have I shied away from the ball, not on Madrid or any other club I've played for.
Has Raul been a colleague or a rival?
Of course I have always considered him a colleague. I've never had anything against him and I'm sure he's never had anything against me. Listen, we're not friends, we've never gone out to dinner together, or to each others houses. But in the locker room we've always had all the respect in the world for each other and I've never had any problems with him.
Awhile back, before you left the club, you witnessed a fight in the locker room between Diarra and Salgado. How did you feel about that?
I went to seperate the two and got hit myself. When everything calmed down I got up and went to take a shower. After that something strange happened: Capello walked up to me in the shower and told me that he was talking to the team and that what I did (going to take a shower) was disrespectful and that I needed to go listen to the what he had to say. I told him Guti had left, Casillas wasn't there either, that another three players were in the gym and if he wanted to have a meeting he should do it with all of us.
Was the departure of Del Bosque the beginning of it all [bad phase by the team]?
Yes: The only thing Florentino Perez did wrong was that because Del Bosque was a person that handled the locker room very well and with him we felt comfortable both on the pitch and off.
Did any of you complain about Del Bosque leaving at the time?
I had confidence in Florentino and I told him. It was a tough decision to make. He told me they felt it was time to end the Del Bosque era and bring in another manager. By the looks of things that was an incorrect decision.
Many of your teammates have said that the term 'Galacticos' has done harm to the team. Do you feel the same way?
The 'Galactico' thing certainly didn't help us in anyway. And quite frankly we didn't invent it and we didn't like it. In fact, it only hurt us. At the end of the day Real Madrid is only a football club that happened to bring together the likes of Zidane, Figo and myself. I think alot of people felt we thought we were bigger then everyone else or something special and that irritated alot of people. No, the 'Galactico' thing didn't help us at all.
And besides the error of letting Del Bosque go, what do you think is the problem with Madrid now?
Look, I'm only a player and I can only give opinions about my situations. There is a president, or two, one technical director, one marketing director...a thousand directors and each one has their own way of thinking, each one wants a different manager, a different player. I'm not in a position to give you an analysis of why Madrid stopped winning.
Your friend Roberto Carlos has announced that he will leave Madrid in June. Would you sign him for Milan?
On the spot. And more because of how they have treated him in his last phase as a madridista. He had a tremendous offer from Chelsea, they told him not to accept and they would renew his contract and improve his contract. Then he plays a couple of bad games, Bayern eliminates Real, not only because he mishandled the ball on that one play, and they turned their backs on him. That's not something you do to a player that has done so much for you.
And Ronaldinho?
I would sign him too. I want all of my friends by my side. I'm sure that Ronaldinho would feel very comfortable with the way things are in Mialn.
Is it true that you and Kaká are trying to talk him into leaving Barcelona?
No, at least I know I'm not. But both Berlusconi and Galliani have said on more than one occasion that if there is any possibility of Ronaldinho leaving Barcelona, Milan will be there ready to bring him. This is a club respected by all.
Can you see Kaká coming to Madrid?
That seems impossible.
Translation:
We just heard you speaking to the people of Milan in an Italian that Giribaldi would be proud of. How many languages do can you speak?
Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, English and I still remember some things in Dutch that I learned during my time with PSV. And I also speak the language of the ladies which is the most complicated (laughs).
You look happy, as if you have taken the weight off your shoulders...
Yes, of course, I'm very happy. They have given me the possibility to play football and feel complete as a person and in my profession. The way things are at this club there is no other way to be but happy. And optomistic.
Do they work more in Milan then with Madrid, and by extension, in Spanish football?
From my experience in football I can affirm that no other club works the way Milan does. I said this once I got here and the club by us (referring to Inter) got mad. The truth is it's incomparable. In Milan they give you everything so that you can be at 100%. You have the Milan-LAB, the club laboratory where they follow things daily, everything from a players fitness to lactic acid, ha, ha! Physical tests are done almost daily, there are a thosand things they do so that the footballers are always at their best.
But wasn't a footballer like yourself more comfortable in Spanish football?
They punish you alot here. Italian football hasn't changed, it's the same as it's always been. Hard, intense, with alot of hard tackles. Without a doubt Spanish football is a bit more relaxed, but the level of demand it takes to play there is similar.
When have they given you the hardest tackles?
In all the games! Here there is no way to point out one defender or one team, all of them go about their job defensively the same. The only thing I can tell you is that at the end of the matches I'm full of bumps and bruises.
Hearing you speak this way makes me wonder how, after you left Madrid, you were accused by some for having a lack of commitment with the club and with football
I had absolute commitment with Real Madrid. An honest commitment, that's the truth. I never missed one training session or to any event I was needed for marketing/commercial reasons for the club. I was the player that most contributed to the marketing aspect of the club. On the pitch I always gave my all, sometimes things came out well and other times not so well, I don't know how they can say I wasn't commited. In any case, it's not true and they didn't allow me to continue my commitment to the club. They invited me to leave one year and a half before the end of my contract.
Is there any feeling of Madridismo left in you?
Of course. I was there for many years and was delighted the whole time to have been playing for Real Madrid. The end was ugly, but I know that I didn't look for that and it wasn't my fault. I still follow their games and want them to win for my friends all of my friends that I left behind. May they win and play well and may the fans be happy. I continue to be a Madridista.
[Weird question to translate. Don't really know how to. Basically a question about Madrid's chances to win the league.]
Yes, I hope Madrid win the league. But they have it tough. In any case, Sevilla, Barcelona and Valencia are giving away tremendous opportunities, so even though Real have gotten some poor results, especially in the Bernabeu, the truth is they have a chance to be champions. But I'll be honest. I don't want Madrid to win because of Capello, but of course, for all of my teammates.
¿Do you feel the Bernabeu liked you alot, a little, ...?
I think they liked me alot, but I'm conscious that after my comments following the Arsenal match in the Champions League, they started treating me a bit different. (The Brazilian said at the time he didn't feel supported by the fans).
So do you believe you made a mistake?
Yes, surely I expressed my feelings at the wrong time. I felt like if I missed two or three passes the Bernabeu didn't have the patience and booed me. But I also feel that they celebrated my goals with a special affection, different from how they celebrated anybody elses. I always loved the Bernabeu and if I complained about anything it's because I was hurt.
Have you ever shied away from recieving the ball?
I've always asked for the ball. When I'm on the pitch just try to move around and play my game. When I'm up front alone against two or three defenders all watching me, I have a harder time and it's normal that I go a few minutes without touching the ball. With another striker by my side there are alot more options. But never have I shied away from the ball, not on Madrid or any other club I've played for.
Has Raul been a colleague or a rival?
Of course I have always considered him a colleague. I've never had anything against him and I'm sure he's never had anything against me. Listen, we're not friends, we've never gone out to dinner together, or to each others houses. But in the locker room we've always had all the respect in the world for each other and I've never had any problems with him.
Awhile back, before you left the club, you witnessed a fight in the locker room between Diarra and Salgado. How did you feel about that?
I went to seperate the two and got hit myself. When everything calmed down I got up and went to take a shower. After that something strange happened: Capello walked up to me in the shower and told me that he was talking to the team and that what I did (going to take a shower) was disrespectful and that I needed to go listen to the what he had to say. I told him Guti had left, Casillas wasn't there either, that another three players were in the gym and if he wanted to have a meeting he should do it with all of us.
Was the departure of Del Bosque the beginning of it all [bad phase by the team]?
Yes: The only thing Florentino Perez did wrong was that because Del Bosque was a person that handled the locker room very well and with him we felt comfortable both on the pitch and off.
Did any of you complain about Del Bosque leaving at the time?
I had confidence in Florentino and I told him. It was a tough decision to make. He told me they felt it was time to end the Del Bosque era and bring in another manager. By the looks of things that was an incorrect decision.
Many of your teammates have said that the term 'Galacticos' has done harm to the team. Do you feel the same way?
The 'Galactico' thing certainly didn't help us in anyway. And quite frankly we didn't invent it and we didn't like it. In fact, it only hurt us. At the end of the day Real Madrid is only a football club that happened to bring together the likes of Zidane, Figo and myself. I think alot of people felt we thought we were bigger then everyone else or something special and that irritated alot of people. No, the 'Galactico' thing didn't help us at all.
And besides the error of letting Del Bosque go, what do you think is the problem with Madrid now?
Look, I'm only a player and I can only give opinions about my situations. There is a president, or two, one technical director, one marketing director...a thousand directors and each one has their own way of thinking, each one wants a different manager, a different player. I'm not in a position to give you an analysis of why Madrid stopped winning.
Your friend Roberto Carlos has announced that he will leave Madrid in June. Would you sign him for Milan?
On the spot. And more because of how they have treated him in his last phase as a madridista. He had a tremendous offer from Chelsea, they told him not to accept and they would renew his contract and improve his contract. Then he plays a couple of bad games, Bayern eliminates Real, not only because he mishandled the ball on that one play, and they turned their backs on him. That's not something you do to a player that has done so much for you.
And Ronaldinho?
I would sign him too. I want all of my friends by my side. I'm sure that Ronaldinho would feel very comfortable with the way things are in Mialn.
Is it true that you and Kaká are trying to talk him into leaving Barcelona?
No, at least I know I'm not. But both Berlusconi and Galliani have said on more than one occasion that if there is any possibility of Ronaldinho leaving Barcelona, Milan will be there ready to bring him. This is a club respected by all.
Can you see Kaká coming to Madrid?
That seems impossible.