Liverpool Translated

Reina: “Playing in front of ‘The Kop’ is a privilege”

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:22:00 +0000

“Playing in front of ‘The Kop’ is a privilege”

In the three years he’s been at Liverpool, Pepe Reina has adapted perfectly to the local culture and identity. He holds the club’s record for most consecutive games without conceding a goal, set at 11 games, and he’s also earned the reputation of being a specialist when it comes to stopping penalties, which he displayed in the FA Cup final of 2006 and the Champions League semifinal last season against Chelsea FC. His father, Miguel Reina, was the starting goalkeeper for Atletico de Madrid in the 1974 European Cup final. Twenty five years later, Liverpool faced AC Milan in the final of that same competition. With his mind focused on the second leg match that his team will play against FC Internazionale Milano, the goalkeeper is hoping to reach the final once again with Liverpool. This is what he told uefa.com

What is it like to defend the goal in front of The Kop stand?
James Richardson, Melbourne, Australia

- It’s a huge privilege. I feel real confident when I defend that goal. It’s almost as if the opposing teams were attacking uphill.

What do you reckon is the biggest threat Internazionale pose for the second leg match?
Patrick Lising

- Their team as a whole is their biggest threat, but I imagine that Ibrahimovic, Julio Cruz and Suazo will be the players to look out for. But we must be focused on their entire team because they will be trying to turn the result to their favour.

What chances do you give Inter of going thru? Do you think they’re capable of winning the UEFA Champions League?
Mathew Koury, South Africa

- We know that it won’t be an easy task, they have won many games by at least 2-0 before and we must make sure that we score so that the match is played to our advantage.
- Of course! You can’t win it every year but you do have that hope…

Besides yourself, who are the three best keepers in the world? And who was your idol as a kid, was your dad a big influence on you?
Keenan, Johannesburg, South Africa

- I think it’s very difficult to name just three. But I’ll take a shot nevertheless: Cech, Casillas and Buffon. My idols were Zubizarreta and later on Molina. And yes, it is to my understanding that my dad was a great keeper, although I never got to see him play live.

Which save would you describe as your best ever?
Steve Wainwright, Liverpool

- It’s hard to pick one. When they’re important saves they’re all beautiful but I would pick the one against Roberto Carlos at the Bernabeu, it was a Real Madrid-Villarreal and it was in the last minute. The match ended 1-1.

Why did you decide to sign for Liverpool
Jeff Jenkins, Alness, Scotland

- Because it was a huge step forward in my professional career and the adaptation to a new country was made easier by the Spaniards in our team. Besides, Liverpool are one of the greatest teams in the world and they’ve won the European Cup five times.

Would you rather win the Champions League or the Euro
Ivana, Croatia

- Both competitions are very important and I want to win them both. But winning something for your country, with the entire country behind you I think is the greatest thing.

Who is your best friend in the national team and why? What’s your opinion of Casillas both personal and professionally?
Evrim, Turkey

- I have many friends there. Pablo, Villa, Torres, Casillas…We spend a lot of time playing cards together. Casillas is one of the best and quickest goalkeepers in the word and he’s also a great person.

Do you plan to stay at Liverpool for a long time? Is there any one you currently admire?
Karl

- At this time my idea is to stay at Liverpool for many years since I’m very happy to be playing for one of the best teams in the world. And I always try to pick up something from every good goalkeeper I watch on television.

What’s the dressing room like at Liverpool? Did you have a hard time understanding the people from Liverpool?
Amelia Madan

- We are very united as a team. We like to play golf together and spend some time off the pitch, like going to a restaurant. Now I have less of a problem understanding them, but at first I had a hard time.

Can Spain do a good job in the 2008 Euro at last? What must change in order to achieve this?
Andrew Orsatti

- With all my heart I hope and wish that this is the Euro where Spain finally achieve something important. We have great players in our team who are very mature and who are very important and decisive players at their respective clubs. That helps us to be optimistic.

As a Liverpool supporter I’ve had the chance to travel all over Europe and the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced was at Olympiakos. What’s the most extraordinary atmosphere you’ve ever experienced?
Chris, London

- Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş…But specially the last semifinal against Chelsea at Anfield. That’s what I call an atmosphere!

If you weren’t a keeper, what position would you like to have played and why?
Philipp Llave, Rockwell, Philippines

- I would’ve possibly ended up playing as a central defender or a striker. As a matter of fact, when I play footy with my friends during the summer in Ibiza, I play as a striker and I score tons of goals.

First, I would like to thank you for the win against Chelsea last year. My question is this: Why is it so hard to stop a penalty?
Nick Sipsas

- You need to collect a lot of information on who or whom is/are the possible penalty takers and then hold still until the very last possible moment. Then you must be lucky and hope that the shot is not perfectly placed because otherwise everything I mentioned before is useless. A well taken penalty is almost impossible to stop.

You’re a fantastic goalkeeper, one of the top five in the world today. I would love for you to be the starting goalkeeper for the Spanish NT, What do you need to do to dethrone Casillas in the future?
Yathen, Bangalore, India

- It’s difficult at this time to dethrone Casillas, but I will keep fighting and working hard in case I get the opportunity.

UEFA

Liverpool target Mallorca’s Trejo

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 10:01:00 +0000

From Marca

Liverpool are targeting Óscar Trejo as a possible reinforcement for next season. Although their interest is not formal yet, the English club will make a firm proposal in the next few weeks to Mallorca for the Argentinean forward’s services for the 2008/2009 campaign.

Rafa Benitez has made an effort since his arrival at Anfield to recruit young talent who are able to bring quality into the team and who show promise for the future. Thus, footballers like Barragan, Francis or Arbeloa have decided in the past to migrate from la Liga to Liverpool, where they have been offered the recognition, both professional and economic that the big Spanish clubs had denied them.

Now, the next one in line to leave for the British Isles could be Óscar Trejo, who could benefit from the English club’s transfer policy. Thus, the Argentinean attacking midfielder would see an improvement over his current contract while having the opportunity to take a step forward on a professional level.

Loan with an option to buy

Liverpool’s idea is not to negotiate the immediate transfer with Mallorca, at least not in the meantime. Their intention would be to request the loan of the player this summer and to include a buy clause, which would vary depending on the installments. Thus, they would be able to acquire 50 percent of the player’s transfer in December or make a bid for the full transfer in June of 2009.

Trejo arrived in Mallorca a year ago with the expectation of playing in the Spanish Liga but at present time his chances have been scarce despite showing goods amount of quality on the pitch. The presence of the likes of Güiza, Arango and Webó, have shut the first team doors to this 19 year old.

Contracted until 2011

During recent matches at Valladolid or at home against Betis he has entered the match in the final minutes, and last week he didn’t get a chance to play in Getafe despite the unfavorable 3-1 score. The Argentinean is signed ‘til June 30, 2011 and he is not willing to remain in the current situation since it contradicts the assurances he was given before accepting Mallorca’s offer.

In the year he’s been at the isle he has only started two matches, despite scoring a goal on his debut against Getafe. Trejo is not willing to continue in this situation because he feels his progression as a footballer is being stalled.

As a matter of fact, the current situation could have a negative effect for him ahead of the Olympic Games, which were one of the player’s priorities for this season. The Argentinean forward knows that unless he gets playing time, it will be very difficult for him to make the squad in Beijin, making it even more unlikely for him to stay at Mallorca past this season.

Rafa interview with El Mundo ahead of the match against Chelsea

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:31:00 +0000

Interview published today on Spanish national 'El Mundo'. Interesting part when he is asked about Pako, quite cryptic though.

INMA LIDÓN

Rafael Benitez has a dream: making Liverpool the Premier League champions, or in other words, shortening the gap created by the big spending clubs. This season that feat seems complicated, but on Sunday against Chelsea he has the opportunity to win in a battle.

How big a setback is Fernando Torres’s injury for Sunday’s match?

- It’s a big blow for us because we were counting on him playing, of course. For me it’s a confirmation that these international friendlies at this stage, when the players have played so many games, don’t make a lot of sense.

Is it safe to say that the Premier is the ideal competition for Torres?

- I think so. Fernando has adapted very well and he has demonstrated that he has great quality and the conditions to succeed.

Do you think he was in need of shaking off the pressure he had in La Liga and especially at Atletico?

- He’s arrived at a moment where he’s matured and has more experience. The change has been good for him, good for us and, as far as I can tell, it’s also been positive for Atletico.

You have described your match tomorrow against Chelsea as ‘vital’ one

- It’s very important for us to get back on track, recover our confidence and to fight, for the time being, for fourth place.

Have Liverpool given up on winning the Premier?

- It’s not a matter of giving up, we need to be realistic. There are two teams at the top that are not making any mistakes and we haven’t been getting the same results as earlier in the season. We’re still lacking a bit in terms of winning matches consistently which would give us the confidence and the possibility of fighting for something more than a Champions League spot.

Do you think people are asking too much of your team when you compare the economical power of your main rivals?

- There is a great difference on the economical level that goes back years. That is what we’re trying to close-in on and, sometimes, in order to achieve this you have to take some risks when you sign players and when you take decisions on the pitch, and you don’t always get it right. To be on the same level as Arsenal, United or Chelsea we have to do everything almost to perfection.

Behind all those teams there are big investors, and the arrival of the Americans at Liverpool has not necessarily meant the injection of cash that people expected.

- The problem is not the spending of this year, but for the last four or five years. The rival squads that were already built by spending a lot of money have kept on strengthening each of those years.

A few months back, Liverpool’s owners did not have all their trust on your work, when the team was six points from the leaders and with a match on hand. Do you think all that controversy has negatively affected your team’s progress since then?

- As a manager I could say yes. I would have the perfect excuse, but I don’t want to use it as an excuse. What is clear is that at that time we were in a good position and that we were close to winning many of those matches that we ended up drawing, and that is why we are in this position now.

But the supporters have had to march on the streets to show their support for Rafa Benitez. Do you think you will remain at the club for the two years left on your contract?

- I have a lot of confidence on our young team that is growing, with a much better squad than when we arrived. I think that the future is promising but we must think about the present.

Despite this, one of the owners spoke to Klinsmann. Do you see it as disrespect?

- At the end you just try to stay away from these things and focus on your job and not pay attention to these kinds of things because you can’t control them.

In this area,you no longer work with Paco Ayestarán, who negotiated with Athletic, Barça and finally Real Sociedad to leave your side. Are you disappointed in the way he left?

- I am very disappointed. When you put your blind faith on somebody and they disappoint you as a person, the professional aspect loses all value, it’s secondary. Sometimes the desire for power changes people. I would like to keep all the good memories but the whole situation was a surprise.

Luis Aragones is also looking over his shoulder for a replacement…

- It’s difficult to keep calm when possible names start to surface. Luis has experience, he will keep going and the team will respond for him.

You’re still fondly remembered in Valencia. Would you be willing to come back?

- I have a lot of good memories from my time in Valencia but I am happy here and I want to win more titles at Liverpool.

Do you follow closely everything that’s going on at Valencia?

- Of course. I think that the latest results in the Liga and the Cup will help them to recover their lost confidence.

What’s your opinion on the situation with Cañizares, Albelda and Angulo?

- Because of my utmost respect for the Club and for them, I feel I must not comment on the issue.

El Mundo

Torres Interviewed by Público

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:01:00 +0000

Some tough questions, some shots taken by the Interviewer but very classy and composed answers from Torres. The journalist interviewing Torres is an Atletico fan who is known for his critical views of the team.

José Miguélez / Público - 18/01/2008 22:20

“I would feel guilty if Atleti weren’t doing well”

Anfield. Last Tuesday. Liverpool are getting ready to play an FA Cup match against Luton. Just before kickoff, a small homage is paid to Carragher for his 500th official match for the reds. The central defender enters the pitch with his son alongside him, who is also wearing a Liverpool shirt. But not his dad’s. He wears the number 9, Fernando Torres’s number. In Madrid, many kids lived that fantasy before. Today they cry.

The derby is upon us. You’re going to miss it.

- Well, I’ll watch it. They are showing it on TV here. I watch a lot of Atleti’s matches.

And what if they go out and win it without you?

- I hope so. But it wouldn’t mean anything. I was never able to beat Real Madrid. Well, the team, not just me.

Have you been back to El Calderón?

No, but only because I haven’t been able to yet.

Are you afraid of that day?

- No, why should I be afraid? Not everyone thinks like you.

How do the supporters at El Calderón think then?

- They’ve understood my decision. Atletico fans still want to take pictures with me, they wish me luck. They come to Anfield with their banners. I still feel the same affection as when I was playing there.

“The easy thing would be to leave Atletico, I’m staying…My future is not tied to the results, if it was I would’ve left a long time ago…The easy thing is to support Madrid or Barça, but I’m an Atletico…People ask me why don’t I leave, that I’m not going to win anything here, but they don’t ask other Atletico supporters to switch teams when their team don’t win anything…This is my home, I grew up here and I want to win titles here: they feel mine and I will enjoy them much more…Do these phrases from last April still torture you?

- No, because they haven’t changed.

Explain that…

- I still feel the same way about many of those things I said. Not so about others. At Atletico things are constantly changing. I want to win titles with Atletico. But they needed me to go in order for other players to take over that responsibility and for the club to be able to make great signings. I didn’t leave to earn more money or deceiving anybody.

Only breaking your word

No. I said what I felt and I left because it was the only way for the club to grow. I also think about myself, I’ve come to a club that gives me a better reputation, where I play comfortably.

Are you saying you felt like you were doing more harm than good?

- No, not at all. But there are other things, that I won’t tell you or anybody else. Things that went on at the club and in the dressing room.

So you were basically fed up?

- No. I tried to help the team get into Europe and achieve great things all I could but I wasn’t able to. Now, that path belongs to others. They’re doing a good job and I hope they are able to achieve these things. I couldn’t. I have that regret, that frustration.

Who was more eager for you to move on, was it yourself or your entourage?

- That whole issue about my entourage makes me laugh. I don’t know what they mean or if they even exist.

Your people: your agents, journalist friends, your family…

My people accept my decisions. The problem is yours, what entourage?

Those that pressured you with ‘you must leave, you must leave’

- You’re completely wrong. My agent didn’t want me to leave. My parents don’t get involved. It was my decision. That’s it. And time has proven me right.

More like it has proven your enemies right. Those that got some joy from you leaving, those that couldn’t stand your loyalty for Atletico, the ones that had doubts about it. Those you made happy.

- I don’t have any enemies. Or friends.

The detractors that are nowhere to be seen now

- Football is like that. I didn’t invent it. It’s a constant change.

Before you were considered an overrated footballer, now you’re a phenomenon. Isn’t it a bit strange?

- At Atleti, I was an easy target. The team wasn’t doing so well and I was the visible head. I lived with it, I tried to change it but I couldn’t. As a collective, we didn’t win anything. But I’m happy about the things I did on a personal level. The numbers are there.

Your game hasn’t really changed, just the adjectives used to describe it

- It’s a lot calmer here for me. I also have more time and a better structure. I’m in a city where I can go out to a coffee shop and people don’t overwhelm me, I don’t feel pressured. I can take a walk without being reminded that I’m a footballer every step of the way. That allows me perform better on the pitch and enjoy it more. I also perceive that I’m on a team that the opponents respect. Just like the Atleti teams I used to follow as a kid, who would go out to win no matter the opposition or the scenario, they were respected and feared…things that I never felt there as a player unfortunately. I feel that here. We must go out to Marseille in a win or win situation, and you sense the fear in the opposition. The supporters don’t feel like they’re in hell all the time, they’ve just come from playing a final. And I feel important in a group where as many as eight players are able to shine. That’s what I was looking fore. I would’ve never had that at Atletico…[he gets asked for an autograph…]

I see that you’re never reminded of being a footballer

- He was Spanish. The English, never.

It seems like it wasn’t that difficult a decision for you to leave

- It was very difficult. Not having won anything at Atletico…That’s the one regret that will never go away. If I had any doubts it was because of that. I would’ve been proud my whole life with just one title. I made my debut while in the Second Division, I’ve had some very bad times, when all the responsibility laid squarely on my shoulders. I also had some good times, but not as many. I would’ve loved to have shown people that Atleti could make progress. I wanted to be there…but I came to realize that I was only staying because of stubbornness. Luckily things are looking good for Atleti. If they were doing badly, I would’ve felt guilty for leaving them. I was positive that they needed me to leave. Luckily I was right. That way I don’t have to look back in regret. I’m also doing very well.

Did you think about your grandfather?[passed on]

- Yes…[another autograph, for the waiter, he signs it in English]. He saw me make my debut for Atletico, and that’s the thing that will stay with me. He always told me to do the best thing for myself. I know that he would be happy. Specially, because Atletico are doing well. Atletico supporters follow Atletico. They’re not Garate, Kiko, Torres, or anyboy else’s supporters. They support the club.

Is there anybody left at Atletico that knows what it means to be be a rojiblanco?

- Yes, I think so.

Care to give any names?

- I don’t know…[he’s interrupted, another autograph: “it’s for my friend”].

I see that the English don’t…

- It’s not usual, it’s incredible!.

I was asking for names…

- The ones I speak to, Alberto[chief of dressing room] or Bastón [goalkeeper’s coach], I know that they understand what Atletico means. Perhaps they’re not allowed to explain it to the newcomers. But football seems to have lost that. Well, not here in Liverpool. In just one week I knew more of the history of Liverpool than Atleti’s. They gave me DVDs, books, I was introduced to the legends….

Who?

- The Club. As soon as you arrive they make you understand where you are, what it means to play for this club, wear the number 9, what Anfield is, who put that little ‘This is Anfield’ sign, who he was, what he’s won…They explain everything to you. I would’ve loved that at Atleti…those that are experienced should help the newcomers. That’s why I used to say: How can I be captain[so young]? Who am I to teach anybody? If I’m ever captain again some day, I will do these things.

That doesn’t happen at Atleti?

- No, it doesn’t.

See what you’ve done by leaving: you left a team without any sign of identity.

- I don’t know. Thing is that not even the players in the youth system know what it means[the history]. I had my grandfather. I went to the matches, I lived the year of the double in person when I was only ten and that runs deep with you, you learn. It’s so important…Every time I step inside of Anfield I know it’s not just another match. I feel the responsibility, the need to show that I belong here. And that didn’t happen at Atleti.
What’s more emotional, ‘You’ll never walk alone’ or the ‘Torres, Torres’ chant after missing at penalty?

- It’s different emotions. The affection that the Atletico supporters showed towards me it’s something I’ll never forget. I haven’t seen it with any other player. Here, they sing songs for me and I feel proud because I’ve just arrived. At Atleti they made me feel like part of them.

It was because of your loyalty. Will you understand your fall from that altar?

- I don’t think I’ve fallen out. Many supporters told me to leave, to think about myself. They’ve understood my decision. My conscience is clear. I tried for many years but wasn’t able to achieve success for the club. Now, the ones that arrive…

Where do you see this affection? El Calderón has gone mute about you. They don’t sing or insult you. For Simeone, for example, they still chant his name.

- But Simeone has wont titles, I didn’t. He’s a lot higher in the institution. And my exit is still very recent. We’ll see as time goes by.

Do you understand those that feel disappointed?

- Yes, of course. I’m sure there are those. I respect them but I know I made the right decision.

Do you feel the need to be comprehended?

- No. Nobody can judge my decision without knowing all the facts. Only I know them. And the decision is mine alone.

Why not share all those facts

- They’re feelings that belong to me only. I don’t make a decision thinking how other people might feel about it.

Is the booing against you over in all the stadiums across Spain?

- I don’t know, It’s not something that worries me. But I’m sure the hate was a result of the shirt I was wearing.

Do you feel like a better player now?

- When the play evolves around the entire team, you get better by force. At Atletico, I felt like the centre of gravity. The team and the system was formed to suit me. The question was always: Who will play next to Torres?
You’re a better finisher as well, don’t miss as many one on ones as you used to

- Every player misses good chances. But it’s more difficult to criticize a player from Madrid or Barça or Milan or Liverpool that one from Atleti.

See how you’ve accepted the same model of critique you used to hate

- No, no. I think it’s because the Premier is not seen as often in Spain. Or because a Spaniard in Spain is not as important, he comes here and makes a name for himself just because he’s a foreigner. It happens everywhere.

Last year, who was right? Aguirre or Aguero?

- There’ll be those who think that back then we didn’t enjoy Aguero because he played less time, and those who think that his success this year is due to a calculated plan. Kun is a great player, but he needs time. He’ll have a great season. I hope that next year they don’t ask him to win the Liga all by himself. It’s the danger for a team with so much urgency.

You can’t shake off the sensation that you had to do it all by yourself

- It was like that for a long time. I wish I would’ve won the League on my first year. It would all have been very different.

You demanded for the club to keep Aguirre. He renewed and then you left

- You don’t like Aguirre either? You don’t like anybody. The team is third in the league. A team needs time for the manager’s ideas to gel. Aguirre’s work is very good. Good football, bad football…there’ll be time to play some great football. People have a good time. The team is scoring a lot of goals, still suffering as always, but they’re getting the results.

Do you feel envy now that Atletico sometimes plays attacking football?

- No, they play attacking football? I think it’s more a case of having a lot of goal up front. And when the match opens up, they have more options to win. That’s why this year asides from Madrid, Barça or Sevilla, they benefit from playing an open match.

You seem happy, but what about when Benitez leaves…

- You didn’t see Anfield against Luton?

But the owners are not the supporters

- But the whole thing doesn’t exist. It’s all a lie. Benitez is not going to leave and they won’t sack him. Results aside, I don’t see it happening. I can’t even imagine it. I don’t think English football has lost its patience like it seems. And the newspapers here are not very trustworthy. That’s why they have less effect. I’ve seen interviews being published that I’ve never done. They just make them up.

Who’s your partner, your Ibagaza here?

- Gerrard. It’s easy to form an understanding with him. There’s no need to do anything special. Wherever you run to, he puts the ball. He’s fantastic. If he played for a different team, he’d be even more renowned. But here in England, Liverpool are not so well liked. That’s made him less popular.

Here we go…Just like Atletico, always whining

- No, it’s not that bad. Liverpool are the English club with the most titles, with more mystic, but it wouldn’t seem like it. I didn’t think they were so big before I got here. Perhaps they haven’t been able to sell themselves so well. Or perhaps it’s not in the interest of some people in England that it is known. Because England is London and that’s it.

Is English football better suited to your qualities or is it just a thing to say?

- Because of the speed, the dynamics, it’s better for me. I used to think that it would take me longer to adapt because there is a lot more contact but because of my qualities it’s been a lot easier.

Is it because of the way Liverpool play or because of the opposition?

- It’s the culture of play here. The refs let the play go on. You know that if somebody is grabbing you and you dive they won’t give the foul. They have to almost kill you to get a foul call. The players help also. I’ve had some confrontations with Ferdinand and Terry but in general the football here is a lot more pure. You don’t see the elbows away from the action…It’s much more honest. They do kick you more. Less frequently, but more forcefully. Here they tackle you and if they are late one second they kill you. The shortest defender I’ve played against is 1,90. It’s incredible. You have to learn to play against that.

How?

- Learning what they don’t like. In Spain you could be playing half a meter away from the defender and you can beat him with speed. Here, if you are half a meter away, they’re grabbing on your shirt all the time. You have to play further away from them. At first, I spent so much time thinking of where to stand that I would miss half the match. Benitez always talks to me about that. To create some separation and if they come for me twenty meters outside the area, they will leave some spaces behind.

Would you be having such a great time without the other Spaniards?

- The first few days they are vital. It’s a new country, a new coin, different side of the road to drive on, no kilometers, miles instead. You need someone to act as a guide or else you’re lost all the time. And also inside the dressing room. Everything is explained in English, it’s confusing and you need someone to ask what to do. Now I understand better the players that would arrive and didn’t speak Spanish, they had a rough time. Now it’s not so bad. The forces us to be together: we have breakfast and lunch together…

What we've tried in Spain, unsuccessfully

- The thing is, you can’t change the culture. English players never protest. They’ll do what they’re asked. They’re ordered to run 200 laps around the pitch and they don’t ask why: you just do it. In Spain, 15 people are complaining beforehand.

Which Liverpool player would you recommend for Atletico?

- Nobody.

Which Atletico player would you recommend for Liverpool?

- Maxi Rodriguez.

The new 4-5-1 system could threaten your Euro participation: It’s either you or Villa. Would Luis Aragones dare?

- It depends on the results. It’s gone well for him this way and as long as it keeps working he will insist with that system. We must accept it.

How many times have you said to yourself: “Why did I leave?”

- Not once.

Will you still be an Atletico ‘socio’ [member]

- I’ve never been one.

Well, its about time

- What for?

At least it’s a connection

- I don’t need a card to have a connection with the club. I’ve been in that club since I was 10 years old.

And for Liverpool

- I would have to put myself on the waiting list. But I have 40,000 people in front of me

Source

Benitez Interview - Diario Sport

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:33:00 +0000

19/12/2007

It’s been said that your position was at risk because of your confrontation with the owners…

- It’s been exaggerated a little bit. The Americans want the best for the club and so do I. They want to sit down and clarify a few things because there is a language barrier and one of distance as well. I think we needed to improve the ways of communication. I’m very calm. I have the confidence that things will be resolved and everything will be fine.

Are things getting more complicated when businessmen get into football?

- The problem of football in general, not just in England, is money. There are a lot of interests and that puts the football aspect in a secondary role sometimes. If we speak of the preseason, before it was unthinkable to go to Asia and change the preparation of the teams. Now it’s done because there is a lot of money in it. Football has changed and not everything works in its favour.

It seems like the form has been somewhat irregular this season?

- We had problems in Europe, but the team made a good start to the league. Then we had a bad month where we had bad results in the Premier and it coincided with the bad results of the Champions. It seemed like we had a mini-crisis, but the team reacted well in the League and we felt more comfortable in the Champions.

In the Premier it is very difficult to fight with the like of Chelsea and United for the title?

- Liverpool have not won the league for 18 years and there is an explanation: the economical potential of the other teams has increased tremendously and we were always trailing them. Now there has been an inversion, but we’re still playing catch-up. The stadium capacity alone supposes 30 million more for the likes of United and Arsenal. The idea is to shorten that gap by building a new [bigger] stadium and also making the right decisions when buying and selling players. That is the key.

From Melwood you can basically control the entire club.

- The figure of the manager in England is this, but there are specialists at every club. What the manager can do is make sure that the sporting and economic issues don’t mix. But the truth is that you never stop working. You always need to pay attention to many issues and it gets complicated. I come from a culture of ‘the coach’ and I like to be on the pitch, train, and then, go up to my office. Those hours, a traditional manager in England such as Ferguson, are used for other things.

After the latest controversy, do you see yourself honoring your current contract at Liverpool?
- I’m quite comfortable here. I would like to stay for the length of my contract and extend it if possible. My family have adapted very well, and for me, the respect and valuation from the supporters in England is fantastic.

The support from the people in Liverpool is huge.

- 40,000 signatures on the internet were collected for me to continue as Liverpool manager. There were signatures from Australia and Asia. Many fans from around the world are supporting a manager who’s achieved some important titles for the club.

Does it bother you that you could be criticized for signing too many Spaniards?

- The fact that we are very active in the Spanish market is due to our extensive knowledge of it. Wenger invests quite heavily in the French market because he knows it well and Mourinho brought some Portuguese players at first, because he’s from there. We have a network of scouts all around the world in order to find the best players. But one thing is clear, choosing a good player is one thing but finding a good professional is more important. In order to know the person better you need a lot of information, and sometimes, you don’t have that information in other countries but you do in Spain.

Is that why you signed Torres?

- The success of Fernando Torres has not been due to his football abilities alone but his mentality and his quick adaptation. We knew what he wanted and what he was looking for. Before we had to make bets with less money and now we were able to do so with more money. I prefer this kind of risk because you’re betting to become champions and not for a mid-table place. You have to take advantage of these kinds of opportunities.

Is your big challenge winning the Premier with Livepool?

- We are very close now. We have eight more points than last year at this point and we have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions, besides we’re still in the Carling with a difficult match against Chelsea. We’re in a good situation, but other teams are also investing, progressing and evolving. We’re shortening the gap.

Your best memories must come from the CL final win against Milan?

- We had to work hard for that one. It’s the most exciting final I can remember and, when I look at the team we had, I almost can’t believe it.

What happened at halftime when you were down 3-0?

- My main problem was the language. When we were down 2-0 I was trying to write some things I wanted to say at halftime and, then, they scored the third goal. Sending across a message in another language is difficult. I was thinking as we entered the dressing room at halftime and then I heard our supporters sing and it was amazing. They were signing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ and were still hopeful at a time when other team’s supporters would’ve left the stadium already. That was an evident source of inspiration. I told them [the players] we had all these people in the stands and we had to do our best. We needed to score a goal to get back in the match. We did. And it was fantastic.

He’s not thinking about their next rival in the Champions

Liverpool is one of the possible rivals for Barça in the next round of the Champions, but Benitez does not want to think about the draw. “I haven’t thought about any of the possible opponents. I can’t pick and choose because it doesn’t depend on me. It’s a lottery and I’m pragmatic about those things. Thinking about the draw before hand doesn’t serve any purpose. Once the draw is made we will have to think of beating whoever it is”.

Despite all this, Benitez has so much experience in this competition that he doesn’t really care about the opposition. “All five teams we can face could be clear favourites to win the Champions, but if you are facing us I would reconsider that notion. The Champions is very competitive and it’s impossible to know for certain who will be there in the final”.

And Benitez believes that “In the Champions you must have luck, quality and efficient. The ties are usually very even and any small individual or team detail can influence the final result. It’s very complicated”.

Benitez knows what it’s like to eliminate Barça in the Champions. Last season, Liverpool won at the Camp Nou 1-2 and went through despite losing at home by 0-1.

Diario Sport

Rafa Benitez interview - Diario AS

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:22:00 +0000

Diario AS interview. Here's the translation for you.

Miguel Á. Vara | 13/12/2007

First of all, congratulations for beating Marseille.

- It was a much needed victory and we’re happy with the outcome. It means that we will progress in a competition that we like, and people will be able to celebrate it accordingly. Just by looking at the atmosphere that we experienced at the airport, any extra effort is worth it.

What happened there?

- As always, many supporters made the trip to support the team and, on the way back, we coincided at the airport and they started to sing, to jump…the police had no idea of what to do because they[the supporters] started to approach me to greet me and they[the police] asked me what to do. I said it was okay, to let them come close and they started to sing for me to stay, hug me…

Do you feel like the people’s manager?

- I feel like Liverpool’s manager and I say that with a lot of pride.

But in the last few weeks the supporters have overwhelmingly come out on your defense…

- Liverpool supporters are, above all, very appreciative and they understand the progress that has been made in the last three years when the team was coming from situation of ostracism. I think they are very grateful for all of this and with each passing day I feel their affection more and more.

That kind of support to a manager is unthinkable in Spain, no?

- Not only in Spain but I doubt it’s happened anywhere else because we’re talking about internet petitions, demonstrations, chants of support and banners in the stadium…they’re incredible and I insist that we must be very grateful to them.

This kind of popular support seems to have put a brake to the owner’s pressure….

- Things are calm, we’re focused on every match and the team is responding very well.

What’s your relationship with the owners like?

- On a personal level the relationship is good, we’ve had some differences on the professional plane but once we meet and get to talk everything will be sorted out and it will end up being nothing more than a misunderstanding.

Is it a problem that they don’t live in Liverpool?

- I think that the distance makes things a little more difficult, that’s why everything will be solved once they arrive.

What do you expect of that face-to-face with the Americans?

- We all want the same thing which is the best for Liverpool so I’m sure that we will understand each other very well.

If you had known you were going to end up with this situation[with these owners] Would you have come to Liverpool?

- I have the virtue that my work is not based on the hypothetical. I will tell you that I’m very happy in Liverpool and I would love to remain here for many years.

But something seems to be happening in England, where we used to speak about a philosophy that seems to be dying out because there have already been five managers sacked this season.

- Perhaps the pressure is higher, everybody wants immediate results and more so now because there are people investing a lot of money and that makes the owners more nervous[about getting immediate results]. But I think that things will settle down now and, as is custom in England, more time will be given to managers to carry out their projects.

Speaking of projects, Are Liverpool favourites to win the Premier?

- There seems to be a misunderstanding when people talk about the amount of money spent by Liverpool when, between the amount we have recouped and what we have spent, we’re in a similar position to the teams close to the top but not close to the biggest clubs. If you analyze it, United have spent 70 million pounds when we have spent 40 something while recouping 26 mil. That’s why I say that a lot of people think that we must win the title because we’ve spent so much money, when there are other teams like Chelsea, United, or West Ham, Newcastle or Aston Villa that have also spend a lot of money, that’s why nobody has any guarantees to win the title. Arsenal have been spending a lot on young players during many years and they’re now starting to collect the dividends. All the teams at the top spend a lot of money but that doesn’t guarantee the title, the Premier is something difficult to achieve because Chelsea, United…are very big and they have been building on for years.

It does seem like more of an even fight this year in the Premier with many teams competing for the title

- Yes, but it’s not just the top four. The fight is more even between all the teams because any team can beat you on a given day.

Going back to the Champions. You’re certain to draw a big club. Do you have a personal preference for an Italian or Spanish team, perhaps Madrid or Barça?

- We’ve had to fight very hard to qualify out of the group stages and we’re just enjoying the moment, we haven’t really thought about which team would suit us best.

And on Sunday you welcome Manchester United…

- That’s why we must leave the euphoria for others. On the plane back from Marseille I spoke to some of the players to see what we could improve on. I think that praise weakens you and you can’t relax just because you’ve achieved one goal, because if you do[relax], you will fail to reach other goals.

Lets talk about someone: Fernando Torres.

- We’re very happy with him, he has a good mentality and I think that he is very happy in Liverpool, he is happy to be a part of this team, the supporters are delighted with him

What has he improved on since he left Spain?

- I think he has less pressure on his shoulders because at Atletico he was the only reference player and he had to carry the whole weight of the club, but here he shares that pressure with other team-mates with a lot of experience and that helps him and gives him confidence, he’s more calm and is more of a team player.

One of those players is Steven Gerrard. People always say that you two don’t have a very good relationship.

- That is just part of the false myths that circle the press, that get repeated over and over and people end up believing in them. It’s a shame that this sort of thing happens and even more so in this case because it’s not true, Steven is a fantastic lad and the relationship is very good.

Now there is another Spaniard managing in England.

- Juande is a good manager and to have more Spanish managers managing outside of Spain is important because it shows the level of quality in the collective.

What is the biggest problem he could face now?

- The language is the first thing because you don’t quite dominate the nuances of the language. One thing is to be able to say things in English and a different thing is to be able to communicate effectively, when to give it the appropriate connotations and be able to use it to motivate the group. That is quite complicated.

Is this the best Liverpool since you arrived?

- It is. The team has improved a lot. The squad in general offers more alternatives, with young players in many cases, but players with quality. We’re still in a phase of development, that’s why I insist that the team can improve, but there are players with quality and with the possibility of being very important players in the Premier because they have the talent.

Are you going to reinforce the team in January?

- We’ve had a problem in central defense because we couldn’t make the deal for Heinze and, then, Agger went down injured. This has forced us to use Hyppia, who is 34, and Carragher every match and many times twice a week, and with the intensity of play here, is not easy to hold up. Our idea is to bring in a central defender, to balance the team in that position.

What’s your take on La Liga?

- I see that there are teams that still haven’t found their rhythm and Real Madrid who keep winning and gaining an advantage, but the other teams are yet to awake and when they do it will be a more competitive Liga.

Barça are one of those teams, no?

- Barça have quality and if they have played well before they can do it again for sure.

And Ronaldinho?

- Speaking from the distance is difficult, I think he’s still a great footballer, but I don’t know what his day-to-day situation is like so it wouldn’t be right to voice an opinion on it.

Another team going through a rough time: Valencia.

- I have the same answer. In this case I know a lot about Valencia and that make me have an even greater respect for them, so it’s not correct for me to speak on the matter.

But you can tell us about their manager because you have played against Koeman a few times

- Not against him, against the teams he managed, because if I had faced Koeman as a player he would’ve beaten me for sure. When we played Benfica we didn’t do well because we conceded a goal from a free-kick in the last few minutes and then we faced a battle uphill and they knocked us out of the Champions. We had more luck against PSV, we played better, but every time we have played them, his teams have done well, they created some danger and we had to do a lot of good work to get some positive results.

Koeman insists on changing the system, Do you think that squad can do so without any traumas?

- I think that the players are the most important thing, that is clear, then, having players with intelligence allows you to tweak the system and find the weaknesses on the opposing team while maximizing your strengths. I don’t think you can talk exclusively about the players or the system, both things need to come together.

Another team, Atletico. Better without Torres.

- I will only say that, fortunately, Fernando is here with us and we’re very happy with him. If Atletico are doing well, then good for them.

The one thing that did get straightened out was the national team.

- That shows that you must always have patience. If you give the managers confidence, at the end they can instill their ideas and is easier to gain results. Spain has the individual quality and, now, they have shown that they can work as a team and play well as a group. Now we’ll see how far they can go.

And how far can Liverpool go?

- As far as we can. Our professionalism and our supporters demand so.

Spanish Radio interview with Arbeloa, Torres & Rafa after Marseille

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:24:00 +0000

Radio interview conducted by Cadena Ser's programme 'El Larguero'. Just as background info, so that it makes more sense, every year come Christmas time the Spanish Lottery has the biggest purse of the year which is called 'El Gordo de Navidad' [Christmas' fat one]and it's pretty much a tradition for the regular folk to buy their lottery ticket in hopes of hitting the big one.

Here's the transcript....

(Presenter) Jose Ramón: Alcalá has already arrived at Marseille’s airport along with Liverpool’s squad, right Alcalá

Alcalá: Here we are ready to travel with them back to England, surely to be a very pleasant ride, I’m here with Arbeloa, who we had last night on the show and we were recalling our chat, when we talked about giving them our blessings from ‘El Larguero’, and, joder, did it ever work!0-4… a commanding victory, and a real exhibition of football today in Marseille. By the way, he is absolutely convinced, beyond any doubt that next round’s draw will pair them against R.Madrid…

JR: Alvaro!

AA: Yes.

JR: I told you…you were going to play, you weren’t so sure last night. I called you so late, nearly 1 am to tell you that you were going to play but you had doubts…or did you know already? [ and didn’t want to say]

AA: No, but I sensed it was possible because I’ve been playing quite frequently and the logical thing was that Rafa would keep the same team more or less.

JR: I told you that Alcalá was bringing you some luck

AA: Yes, lots of luck[laughs]

JR: But he got out of hand eh![laughs]

AA: He did[laughs]

JR: I told him a 0-1 was enough but he went mad, Hala, boom, 4!

AA: In case there were any doubts!

JR: Did he give you the lucky lottery ticket?

AA: No, I’m going to ask him for it now. I think he’s kept it for himself, doubt he will give it to me now.

JR: Ask him for it! I told him to take one for you, seriously, and one for Reina. Not for Torres or Benitez because they make a lot of quid and they don’t need to win the lottery…

AA: [laughs] But Pepe also makes a lot eh!

JR: I know, but he’s just become a father and he has to give the daughter an education!

AA: That’s true

JR: I said ‘Give my little Alvaro at least a ticket and if he gets a portion of the big one, say a million Euros, a little something like that would be nice, no?’

AA: It wouldn’t be bad at all[laughs]

JR: Well…fantastic, wasn’t it?

AA: Yes, now to await our next rival and it seems like there’s a good chance for a big Spanish or Italian team, we’ll see

JR: Who would you prefer? I was told you wanted R.Madrid?

AA: Yes, it would be nice. We’ve talked about it and it would be a great tie against a top team and something to really look forward. So if we draw Madrid it would be great.

JR: You would rather play them now, instead of playing them a bit later in the competition?

AA: No, to start off against a strong team is better. I think Fernando is very eager to face them, Rafa also so I think it would be fantastic get Madrid on the draw.

JR: [laughs] Well, Alvaro. On the 22^nd, Saturday I’ll give you a call since it’s the draw for the Lottery and I’ll call you to ask you how you are planning to celebrate

AA: Okay, I’ll let you know then! Let’s see if he gives me the ticket first!

JR: Cheers!

AA: Cheers, good night!

Alcalá: Thanks to Alvaro Arbeloa as we head towards the boarding gate here in Marseille and here he is…the man of the night, what a great goal, it was the 0-2 and his third goal in the CL. Smiling, ear-to-ear smile on his face, a happy lad he is…here’s Fernando Torres

JR: Hello Fernando!

FT: Hello, Good evening!

JR: Joder, what a good streak? I’ve given you my blessing, eh?

FT: Yes [laughs], the truth is that things are going well and today was the most important match for me since I’ve been here and we saw that the team has responded very well.

JR: I told Alcalá not to give you the lottery, I sent one to Arbeloa but I said ‘Not to Fernando because he’s rich and besides, he’s already lucky enough’ why would you want to win the lottery, aye?

FT: No, well, to celebrate with the friends it wouldn’t be bad at all

JR: What you have to celebrate are all these goals! You’ve got 12 already so far this season and 3 in the Champions!

FT: Yes, it’s a great thing that these sort of clubs have. I knew that at Liverpool I could keep growing as a player and play with an ease of mind to enjoy what this team has to offer and it’s been that way, no? With players of great quality and playing in a lot of competitions, lots of matches and especially the games like the one today which makes my decision the more worthwhile.

JR: Tonight’s goal was beautiful, how you face up in the corner of the area, get past three and put it in the far post, gorgeous.

FT: Yeah, when the team is playing well and with confidence we’re able to do things like this and today we went ahead so early with Gerrard’s goal and our confidence was really high and you try these things and hope they work and hopefully we can carry this sort of form for the match against Manchester.

JR: You are the team with the highest goal average. Three goals per match, and Alvarito was telling me that ‘Fernando wants to play R.Madrid’

FT: [laughs] No, I didn’t say that…that’s him. No, we know there is a good chance of drawing a Spanish or Italian team and we know we have no choice but any of those teams will be tough. It’s the bad part of qualifying as a second placed team, there are no easy teams but, well it wouldn’t be bad at all.

JR: So, you would like to play them too. Arbeloa was telling me ‘ I want them now’

FT: What we talk about in the dressing room is to play in the biggest stadiums against the biggest clubs, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan…after the final people would like to play them again but they’re all tough. Sevilla are playing well in the Champions. Madrid and Barcelona and Inter are all favourites to win it so you never know which draw will be best. We want to concentrate on the Premier now and hope to be in good form by the time we start the next rounds.

JR: I wanted to talk to you about all the punishment you’re receiving in the Premier from defenders. The other day against Reading they kicked you flat, ,eh?

FT: [laughs] Yes. It’s the way it is here. The key is to learn that quickly and avoid those hits because it’s a lot of those every match.

JR: Is it true that while they’re tougher they’re also more noble?

FT: Yes, I think so. Very rarely you will see a tackle where they’re really trying to hurt you on purpose but rough tackles like the other day are very common.

JR: Hey, don’t worry about Atleti because ‘Kun’ will play. They removed one of the yellows on appeal…and he’ll play in Huelva…

FT: I think it’s fair, no?

JR: Yes, Yes, and he’s taking his gloves with him !

FT:[laughs] Yes, well, they don’t love him so much in that stadium but for players that him, they thrive in those moments.

JR: People in Huelva surely love to watch him play but don’t worry about Atleti. Now we’re in CL places and at the end of next year you’ll see when we play against you

FT: I hope so, I hope so

JR: Well, have a safe trip!

FT: Thank you very much Jose Ramon

JR: Good night

FT: Cheers.

Alcalá: Well, that was Fernando Torres and before we board the plane, here is this man, wearing a suit, with a red tie, Liverpool red, who was on the edge Jose Ramon because he had to win the last three matches and well, 8 against Besiktas, 4 against Porto and 4 against Marseille and Liverpool have qualified. He’s the last one as we board the plane, here’s Rafa Benitez.

JR: Manager, good evening!

RB: Hello, good evening

JR: I didn’t send you a ticket either with Alcalá. Not for you nor Torres because you’re already rich and are so lucky, so for Arbeloa a little bit.

RB: I tell you Joserra, that luck is in love with hard work. It’s one of those phrases you hear all the time and the more you work the more luck you get. So Torres who works a lot is very lucky, Arbeloa is also lucky and so am I.

JR: The match turned out easier than we all expected because after 11 minutes you were up 0-2…

RB: Yes, we knew it would be a difficult match and then the pitch wasn’t in great condition and it was very windy so there were a series of conditions that were dangerous but well, we started really well and the team had the occasion with the penalty that I believe could’ve easily been a red or at least a yellow card and then Fernando’s great goal which put us on the right track. We were very focused, we knew they played well between the lines and we needed to be compact and the team has responded very well.

JR: Rafa, has Gillette gone, the bloke with the razor blades, one of the owners who said was going today…

RB: His son was with us at the Hotel but I haven’t seen him[George Gillette] perhaps he arrived a bit later but I really didn’t see him because we were preparing for the match, etc.

JR: But don’t they go in the dressing room before the match?

RB: No because, well they’re usually in America and the son is here now but he doesn’t come in. Sometimes the president comes in, well, most of the time the former president although he’s still chairman and the chief executive and they spend some time with us and then go up to their seats.

JR: And you didn’t see him after the match either? Does he travel on a different plane?

RB: I don’t know because I haven’t see him. We’re about to get on the plane so I don’t know. I imagine that he came in his private plane.

JR: Ya, well you know how billionaires are! And they haven’t called you on the mobile phone to congratulate you?

RB: I don’t know. I will have to check now because my mobile phone is in the bag but I’ll check. I think they must be happy just like the rest of us because the team won and played well. And now we have to sit down and see how we’re going to go forward for the future, no?

JR: What has to make you real happy are two things, besides the victory of course. But it’s the support of the fans and the support of the players. The way they’ve all come out like tigers on your defense?

RB: Yes, I think that the team have shown there is unity and that they trust that things can work out well and the supporters are fantastic because I had never seen demonstrations and internet petitions and chants during entire games in support of the manager. Usually, fans support a player or such but for managers you’re usually shouted at to leave the club[laughs] but in this case I’m extremely happy to be here

JR: Were you ever approached to manage England? No insinuations?

RB: Nobody spoke to me. There were rumours and such but nobody spoke to me because, first and foremost I’m still Liverpool’s manager.

JR: And would you have dared to manage England?

RB: Why be afraid?

JR: No man, not fear! But a patriot like you! At least tell them ‘Sure when you give us Gibraltar back! Or something.

RB:[laughs] No, look. The Spanish NT which could be an objective for any manager, I think we all think the same way. In the future, because now when you’re still full of energy and hunger, you want the day-to-day aspect and thinking ahead in the future you could consider the NT. The Spanish, the English or any other good team because, in this case, we’re talking about two very good teams.

JR: How are you spending the Christmas?

RB: With the family. We have some family coming over and it’s the typical Christmas eve dinner and such. We try to do that as long as it doesn’t coincide with a match because that’s how it works here. But in this case I think we have a match on the 26^th and then on the 2^nd so I think we will manage with the schedule.

JR: Well, Merry Christmas in case I don’t see you manager.

RB: Same to you.

JR: I wish you the best my friend

RB: Thank you, cheers.

Xabi Alonso interview with Diario Vasco (Basque Daily newspaper)

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 19:15:00 +0000

Interview published today by Diario Vasco. It's part of a series of interviews and articles done with the Basque players that are playing in the Premier (Arteta, Campo, Garrido, Mikel and Xabi Alonso)and the exact date of the interview is unknown but it was probably done over a week ago or so. Hope you like it.

09.12.07 -

MIGUEL GONZÁLEZ

Give us an update on the injury.

- I’m taking it one step at a time. After the setback I had I’m taking it slowly now and I want to give it time to heal. But I’m having good sensations.

Is it similar to the injury you had while playing for Real(Sociedad)?

- This injury is on the fourth metatarsal and the one I had at Real was on the fifth. That fracture requires surgery and you know for sure how long you’ll be out for. This injury is not operated on, so it’s more difficult to determine how long you will need for recovery and also more difficult to measure just how well it’s progressing.

It’s the first case I’ve known of a fourth metatarsal injury.

- Me too. I don’t know what could’ve caused it. I noticed some discomfort during a match but I didn’t think much of it. Two days later I broke down in training.

What’s your balance so far on Liverpool’s start of the Premier?

- It’s been much better than in years past, where we always struggled away from home. This year it’s been the opposite, we’ve won more points away than at home. We had a couple of unexpected draws at Anfield and it’s what’s stopping us from topping the table so far. We’re doing well in the league but are having some problems in the Champions.

But in previous years you were a lot further back in the league table…

- A good start is vital for a title challenge. In previous years, by December we would be ten points back and it’s very difficult to cut back the advantage on teams like Manchester, Arsenal or Chelsea. Against one of them maybe but against all three is almost impossible because the big clubs don’t lose a lot of points. We’re well placed and if we continue playing strong, we will be fighting for the Premier.

Is the Premier your main objective this season?

- Yes, without a doubt. There’s a lot of expectations, in both the supporters and the squad, to win the league after almost twenty years.

And you’ve reinforced the squad really well also. Tell me about the new boys. Torres?

- There’s nothing new to discover, although you never know how well he could adapt. English football suits him because there are lots of chances and he can make a difference with his strength and pace.

Babel?

- He’s a great player. He can still improve, but he has shown glimpses of what was expected of him. He can make a difference with his pace and skill, and once he starts making better decisions he will add a lot to this team. He’s also got a great shot.

Voronin?

- A great signing, because we got him on a free. He’s been a great surprise. Very intelligent, plays for the team, creates chances, gives assists and can score goals. He’s a great bloke as well. I knew him already because I’ve faced him twice while playing for the national team, last time during the World Cup, and another time when he played for Bayer Leverkusen in the CL quarterfinals in 2005.

Benayoun?

- I already had him down as a good player before he scored the hat-trick against Besiktas. Playing for both Racing and West Ham he had shown his quality. He moves really well between the lines.

We add Gerrard, Kuyt, Carragher, Reina, Agger…What a great team!

- Yes, we have a good team, but there are a lot of good teams here(Premier)

Let’s start with the leaders. Arsenal?

- They’re playing very well. They play the most attractive football in the Premier. When we played at Anfield I was really impressed by their high tempo and the ease with which they would get past us in attack. But it’s very difficult to maintain that rhythm for the whole season.

How would you explain their improvement after losing their star player in Henry? Similar to what happened to Manchester last season, they won the league after losing Van Nistelrooy.

- It’s the work they’ve been putting in since last season. They already had a great squad, like they showed by reaching the Carling Cup final with their reserves. Besides, Henry spent a lot of time injured and even then, they got some great results. Henry’s departure has meant that other players have assumed more responsibility and they feel more important now.

What about Manchester United?

- They have a great team with the likes of Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez, Giggs, Scholes…They’re very good and will win a lot of games.

Are Chelsea less of a threat without Mourinho?

- Not at all, they’re still a very solid team, and they will be in the fight. Without a doubt Mourinho had put his mark on that team because of his personality, but they have recovered very well and are still the same team that can just roll over the opposition and end up winning matches by crumbling them. To win the league in England you have to play at a very high level.

What can you tell us about Man City and Garrido?

- They’re unbeatable at home, they’ve won all their matches there and that’s a sign of their strength. You tend to think that they will fade at some point, but after fifteen matches they’re still up there. They’ve found their best eleven and there they’re working very well, they also have a good mix of youth and experience and seem to be in good spirits. We’ll see how far they can go.

This is your fourth season at Liverpool and you’ve already won the Champions, FA Cup, Super Cup…What goals are you setting for yourself this season?

- I’ve still got lots of things left to accomplish. I hope I can win the title at Liverpool, make up for the league that slipped away at Real Sociedad. We’ve finished third twice and I think that the complete CV needs a league title in it, because it’s the competition that measures consistency. Then, I have a new challenge with the national team.

The Euro is almost here

- It’s another possibility for achieving something this season. I already played the last Euro at Portugal, where things didn’t turn out so well. At Germany’s World Cup I felt we had a better team and we thought we could go really far, but you can’t allow yourself to make any mistakes and against France we didn’t play our best football. Now we will have a good opportunity to get over that disappointment.

It seems that expectations have sky-rocketed after the convincing win against Sweden

- We’re used to going from heroes to villains and back in short periods of time. Things will start to calm down because there is still a lot of time left before the Euro, although we have two big tests against France and Italy that will give us an idea of where we stand.

For how long do you see yourself playing in England?

- I’ve already surpassed the number of seasons I played there (In Spain), this is my fourth and at Real I played three and a half. This past summer I signed a new deal with Liverpool that runs until 2012, so you do the math. There is great potential at this club to do important things and I don’t see any other place where I could be better.

Tell us about Real (Sociedad)

- I haven’t been able to watch them play this season. I know they’re a very young team and we’ve won four points against Malaga and Sevilla, and that the excitement is coming back by bits. It’s good news. There’s a lot of league left to play, but hopefully they can build on this and find some sort of consistency and in time find themselves in the top spots, which is what gives you confidence.

Do you think they have a chance to win promotion?

- Of course. The key is for the players to feel good, know that they’re doing a good job in defense and attack. If they can gain that sensation and if they have belief, with the players that they’ve got, they’ll be up there without a doubt.

Diario Vasco

As requested: Pre-Liverpool Interview with Krisztian Nemeth

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:06:00 +0000

Hope you enjoy it Z.

The interview is dated 14-12-2006 and was done by Spanish paper Marca.

Krisztian Nemeth: “Puskas was one of a kind and it’s impossible to compare him to anybody else”

Lacking the key figures to idolize ever since the great Florian Albert’s (Golden Ball winner in 1967) career came to a sour end, Hungarian football is eager to recuperate part of its former glories at the hand of Krisztian Nemeth, a lean striker who at 17 years of age is already causing awe with his virtuoso style of play and his high goal-scoring ability inside of the enemy area.

Peter Varhidi, the Hungarian coach, compares him to Trezeguet. A much more grounded comparison for Krisztian himself, than the praise he is receiving from his other fellow countrymen. “No Hungarian player, no matter how good he is, can ever be compared to Puskas because he was one of a kind. He is an idol for all of us who are only getting started in football. I would consider myself very satisfied if I’m able to achieve in my entire career only a fourth part of what he accomplished, although it makes me very proud that people think of me as his heir”, he tells Marca from his home in Budapest.

Are there any similarities to Puskas in the way you play?

- Perhaps the only similarity is that I'm also a goalscorer, although I am right footed and a bit leaner.

Which one of your qualities would you highlight?

- I’m good on the ball. Opposing players have a hard time taking it away from me. My dribbling is good also. I’m not very fast, but I have good acceleration and I’m explosive over a short distance. I would classify myself as a creative striker.

Thinking of a hypothetical exit to a foreign country, Which football do you like the most?

- My style would probably be best suited to Latin football. In Spain or Italy. My dream is to play in the Spanish league and follow Puskas’s steps at Real Madrid. It would be very hard to describe the joy that would mean for me to wear that shirt and to be only the second Hungarian player to do so after him.

Do you have any idols right now?

- Del Piero. Zidane also. And as a striker, I try to emulate Ronaldo. He’s the best.

What are your objectives in the short term?

First, to recover from the injury that I’m carrying. I hope to score many goals with my team and with the Hungarian U-19’s in the upcoming Eurpean Championship in Ireland, although my main goal is to debut with the Hungarian national team at some point.

Pacheco scores a 'hat-trick'

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:38:00 +0000

Dani Pacheco, the young Spanish striker signed from Barcelona this past summer, scored a hat-trick against San Marino while playing for Spain U-17's in a European Championship qualifier mini-tournament being held in Andorra. Spain won the match by a score of 6-0 with highly rated Thiago(2) of Barcelona and Edu Valle(1) providing the other goals.

Source: ATB

Arbeloa to earn a surprise call-up?

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:54:00 +0000

Alvaro Arbeloa could be a surprise inclusion on Luis Aragones's next squad list. The defender,who has earned a starting place in Rafa Benitez's Liverpool team, is performing at a high level which has prompted the national team manager to pay closer attention to him lately and to discuss with his assistants whether he should be given a chance for the next friendly match on October 17 against Finland.

Arbeloa told Marca on Sunday "I don't know anything about it. I'm working hard as I always do to try and give my best every match. Without a doubt, it would be an honour to play for the national team but nobody has been in contact with me regarding this possibility".

http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/internacional/es/desarrollo/1041556.html

Liverpool sign "Real Madrid's Messi"

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 18:48:00 +0000

From Marca

It’s a major blow for Real Madrid’s youth setup. Liverpool have snapped up Gerardo Bruna, a 16 year old attacking midfielder who was considered one of the jewels on Madrid’s youth teams. With Barcelona priding themselves with the likes of Messi, Giovani and Bojan, Real were hoping to do the like with Bruna, an Argentinian lad of great talent who was brought up in Spain. Benitez gave the go-ahead for the signing.

Interview with Mikel SanJosé

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:24:00 +0000

Interview taken from deportesnavarra.com

The young Spanish centerback from Villava, formed in Athletic's academy is playing with the Liverpool reserves at only 18.

How’s life in Liverpool?

-Very good, I’m really happy. I thought it would be a lot harder at first but that hasn’t been the case, so I’m quite well.

How’s your English coming along?

- At first I thought I was going to have a tougher time with the language but it’s going quite well actually.

How do you manage to get around the city?

- Liverpool is not so big of a city and I’m currently living in the city centre so I pretty much walk everywhere. To go to Melwood, there is a taxi that takes all of us that live in the same area so it’s quite practical.

Where are you living right now?

- On Monday, I will move in with a family that the club has arranged for. Usually, they know someone that works for the club and they know we’re from abroad. Some of my team-mates that live with such families tell me they’re very happy.

Do you speak with your parents very often?

- Yes, my parents are back home. I speak to them every day. They’re very happy for me and always ask me what I’ve done for the day, if I’m happy…they also happy that I’m here.

Is the weather as bad as people say?

- It rains almost every day and it’s been quite cold lately.

But you’re from northern Spain so you must be used to it…

- Yes [laughs] but it never gets this cold in September

Are you surprised by the magnitude of your new club?

- Yes, it’s very impressing. You see very important people all the time and sometimes you get to train just a few feet away from the first team. It’s very rewarding.

Have you spoken to any of the other Spaniards at the club?

- Yes, quite often. Xabi Alonso is very nice and he’s helped me a lot since the first day. With Benitez I don’t speak as much, only from time to time.

And what does he say to you?

- To work harder and to be alert.

Have you been able to watch any of the Premier League matches?

- Since I arrived I’ve watched all of Liverpool’s games at Anfield.

Is the football there so different to Spanish football?

- Yes, people here don’t support based on the result or how well you’re doing. For them it’s more important that all the players give everything on the pitch. If the players fight and fight, even if things don’t go so well, they will keep on cheering. The intensity is a lot higher on the pitch and the refs let the play go on more often.

Does English football suit your abilities better then?

- I don’t know. In Spain, the ball is kept on the ground more often and the strikers base their game on quality. Here, it’s more about long balls and the strikers are very strong. The physique is more important. In Spain, as soon as you touch the attacking player a little bit or make contact they call a foul but here you can almost climb on top of them, use your body and they don’t call a foul, so it’s more difficult for them to win the ball.

What do you reckon you need to improve on?

- I don’t know. My heading is quite good but I need to gain a bit more intensity. With English football being faster I need to add a bit more ‘spark’. It’s going well so far so I’m hoping I get it right soon.

You have a 3 year contract. Have you set yourself any goals?

- It’s difficult but I want to win the starting spot with the reserves and play as much as possible and if I get to make my first team debut then even better. It’s my dream but I know it’s going to be very difficult.

Do you think that being at Liverpool will open up the doors to other teams?

- Yes, but I need to do as best as I can here because if I can’t break into the first team in the future then I will possibly need to look elsewhere. But my aim is to do everything possible while I’m here. I have to give my very best to get to the first team. And hopefully one day I will debut at Anfield.

Torres interview on EL LARGUERO

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:31:00 +0000

Interview aired last night on El Larguero of Cadena Ser.

Alcala- Here tonight, we appreciate the company of a lad who's had to make a difficult decision at the beginning of the summer…who traded away the comfort of his home in Madrid and of his everyday life for a new adventure far away in Liverpool and who, Joserra, you can see the happiness on his face and the calmness at the same time that demonstrate that things so far have been going quite good and I’m very happy for him. Tonight from Las Rozas, home of the national team, Fernando Torres

Joserra- Fernando, good evening. How are you?

- Good. Things have gotten off to a good start for me, just like I wanted it and I’m having a good time.

I’m worried because Alcala told me today that you had to leave the training session 15 minutes before the end. What happened?

- Yes, I took a slight knock from David Albelda and at the time I thought it was nothing but then later in the afternoon I felt some pain again… but the doctor calmed me down, said it was nothing serious just a knock and we’ll see how it’ll progress for the next few days. We’ll try to take advantage of tomorrow’s day off and the trip to let it heal so I can be in the best conditions for the match.

And Alcala, you say he looks very happy?

Alcala- Yes, I think if there is one word to define his demeanor right now that word is happiness. And if you had spent the entire day with him like I have you would realize it’s a different kind of smile on his face, as if he’d taken a lot of weight off his shoulders…it’s a more radiant, more open, more genuine smile and if there is one word to define him…because he’s had a great start to his career in Liverpool…that word is 'happy'. And as I begin to get to know him better I don’t think I’m wrong, Fer?

- Well, these past few years at Atleti have been somewhat difficult at times, there’s been a lot of pressure on me and perhaps while I was there I didn’t feel it or didn’t realize it was there because I was focused on pulling forward for the team and I think the change of scenery has done me a lot of good. Liverpool is a great club and the pressure is shared amongst all the players, the way the team works allows you to grow more as a player and if on top of that the results are going our way then everything is a lot easier. I’m really enjoying the moment, I’m very happy and now that I can look back at the last few years I notice that is very difficult to get improve and to have a good time when you’re carrying all the weight of the team on your shoulders.

All the pressure you were carrying before and that you mentioned you didn’t realize you had or didn’t feel it at the time, now that you’re outside do you see how it affected you?

- Yes, you notice that even when you’re no longer there people are still talking about you and that means that people miss you and in some way they miss a ‘name’, now there are new players coming in and they will have to accept that responsibility and it’s not easy. Perhaps, when I arrived at Atleti I slowly took on that responsibility on my own not realizing it and now that I’m at a different club I see what it is to have the ease of mind of just going on about my job and not having to worry about every little aspect of the club.

Not having all the eyes set on you alone?

- Yes, but I’m not talking about just on the pitch but all the outside stuff. Every little thing that went on at the club somewhat gets brought to your attention. Even when you try to stay from other matters it ends up affecting you somehow whether you like it or not.

That’s why I’m convinced you needed the change and Atletico de Madrid as well because I think that in the present-day Atleti you had no-one to look up to because you couldn’t , what’s there to look up to? And despite that you were insultingly young, too young to become a role-model, no? That’s why I believe it’s been phenomenal for you to change places…

- I think so. We made a decision knowing it would be best for both parties, for me and the club as well. I think time will prove us right, sooner or later but it will. The club needed to build a new team that doesn’t rely on one player. And for me, it was great to start over at a new club where I don’t have that same pressure and it’s been that way for me. I come at a club like Liverpool and I look at the captains, players with a lot more experience than I have and you realize how much they bring to a team in terms of experience, something I lacked when I had to play that role at Atletico. Becoming a captain so young brings a lot of responsibility along with it and perhaps I wasn’t ready to take on that responsibility at a big club like Atletico de Madrid not really knowing what it means to be a captain. Now that I’m at Liverpool I look at how the captains behave and how they do many things I didn’t do because there was nobody there to teach me these things.

For example?

- It’s mostly the respect they command… not just because the way they go about things or because of all the titles they've won, which are many, but in the way they bring along the new players and the young players that train with us and how they are the first ones in line and ready to do things and the way the gain the respect of their peers because of their hard work. I think it’s a different philosophy to ours in Spain but I was very impressed by it. They are the first ones to take you in when you arrive not just a different club but a different country as well with different customs and any time you need anything, apart from the Spaniards of course, it’s these two players, Carragher and Gerrard, they are the ones that carry the weight of the team and the idols of the supporters and they are the ones that try to make things easier for you.

Was it tough for you to take that first step to leave?

- It’s a difficult decision. not only football-wise but on a personal level as well. You’re leaving many things behind in Madrid and many dreams left to achieve at the Club you grew up with and you have to start all over again from zero. Whatever name you’ve made for yourself doesn’t count anymore and you have to prove yourself all over again and perhaps with the added pressure of the big sum of the transfer fee and what it means to a group of supporters who have their sights set very clearly on winning silverware every season.

But I mean personally, obviously it’s your decision but how much influence do others around you have. Like your parents, your girlfriend, many others….for example, what did you parents make of all this?

- [laughs]Honestly, at first my mother didn’t…

That’s what I mean, your dad was probably like ‘do whatever you want son’ but your mum? No?

- Yeah but at the end my girlfriend is the one person that’s with me most of the time and she is perhaps the one’s that’s seen me when I’m sad. She doesn’t give me the ‘go-ahead’ but she stands by my decision because she knows how rough it’s been for me for sometimes and at the end the important thing is to be happy, no?

But now my parents have been over and they saw the CL match where I didn’t play but they left the stadium really happy even if they didn’t get to see me play and they were there for the 6-0 as well and they enjoyed it very much. Now perhaps they realize it’s the best thing for me but at first the decision is a tough one to make.

So it’s just you and your girlfriend in Liverpool?

- Yes but my friends, siblings and parents have come over to visit me already.

And what’s your impression on everything over there?

- On the football side it’s amazing. It’s a great club in every sense of the word, where you’re never missing anything. The atmosphere in the stadium is fantastic, I had never seen anything like it before in Spain.

- I do now [laughs] because Rafa makes us speak in English

But you knew a little bit already….

- Not really. You think you know the language but once you get there and people start speaking to you in English you realize all the stuff you’ve learned is worthless [laughs]

You both have a professor?

- Yes, the club provides a professor for us but the most important thing is the day to day stuff and learning from your team-mates…

And at what time are your English classes?

- It depends on our training session. They adjust to our training schedule and sometimes they come home or we go to the training ground or they come with us when we go shopping…

Your girlfriend too?

- Yes.

And the club provide a house for you too?

- Well, you tell them what you’re looking for and in a week or so they come back with a huge itinerary of houses to look at [laughs]

And what have you chosen, something smaller for the two of you?

- As of right now we’re just getting to know the different areas and looking at the drive time to the training ground, the airport, the city centre…we’re looking for an area that is centrally located and we’re looking at the option that’s best for us.

And where are you living now?

- In a house close to the other Spaniards. Close to Pepe by the airport but I’m still looking.

And what about the driving? Have you had any scares yet? Because Luis Garcia told me once that he took out five or six side mirrors the first time!

- [laughs] he warned me! And Xabi as well…to be careful the first few days, it’s very tense at first you’re trying to get used to the new way of driving at every intersection

Alcala- The roundabouts! You don’t even know where you’re supposed to exit

- I’m ok with those but the intersections are more confusing because I don’t where the cars are coming from or if they’re turning right or left or where I’m supposed to turn to. I’m much better now but at first I was frozen a few times and people must’ve been thinking where did this bloke come from!?

You’re driving an English[type] car?

- Yes, the club gave us a car. I wanted to bring mine from Spain but it’s best I use the wheel on the right side.

Nah but you wouldn’t take your car over then. And now if your girlfriend asks you ‘lend me the car I need to go shopping’ then you’re like ‘Sure, have a go at it’

One thing I’ve noticed is that you’ve adapted really well to the Premier Leauge. You scored that goal against Chelsea and then you score two against Derby…

- It’s important that we’re getting good results in our favour and winning makes things easier but we’ve still got a long way to go. It’s a big change, new country and perhaps now I value more the things that some of my former team-mates that arrived at Atleti went through. When they first come to the Spanish league and they need some time to adapt and some people don’t understand why but it’s a difficult process when you come to a new country and everything is different. Not just a new coin, but the driving is different, new habits and a new way of living so you need some time to get used to and I’m not fully adapted yet.

It’s true that it’s been somewhat easier for me because of the results and the help from my team-mates and even the people in the city that are always making sure you’re comfortable but we still got time.

And what are the training sessions like? I know Rafa Benitez is a Spanish manager but he’s a very peculiar person. How is it different to a training session in Spain?

- It’s different to what I was used to because at Liverpool we play more matches and we usually have to play midweek so the training is more aimed at recovering fitness and preparing for the next match. I wasn’t really used to this kind of training and it’s been somewhat surprising. It’s more individualized and we may only train as a group twice a week and the rest of the time is more player-specific. Also, it is a lot calmer working at Melwood where we train behind close doors and we get to work the entire morning, it’s very different.

And you stay there to eat….

- Yes we do breakfast and lunch at the training ground.

You weren’t used to that…

- No, it’s different but it’s very helpful for me because I can learn English faster from talking to the people there and you get to spend time with the boys from the reserves, which I believe is very beneficial for them to get used to being with us so that when they get a call to train with the first team we already know each other better and it’s good for the team spirit. The atmosphere is much better because you spend all this time together.

And why did you choose the number 9? Did you get to choose it or was it offered to you?

- When the transfer went through I asked for it. I knew that Fowler was leaving and the number was available and Rafa said yes. He asked me if I knew what it meant to wear that number here and if I wanted it I could have it.

You say the training sessions are behind closed doors. Is it always like that?

- Yes. The fans aren't allowed in and the media only come once or twice a month. They may record some video or take some pictures once or twice a month.

So the press is very different in England?

- Yes, there really aren’t any specialized sports papers and they don’t have the same daily following like we do in Spain. The tabloid papers might dedicate five or six pages to sports but…

But they’re very obsessed with the gossip!

- Yes, they don’t have the sports papers but they do sell the tabloids which is more about the gossip and rumours and the stories that nobody knows whether they are really true, it’s a different story. Then on match day there is more coverage about the match, the previews or about the Champions League but the day-to-day is nothing like Spain.

And the refereeing?. Is it better in England than Spain? I did a programme once from Liverpool with all your team-mates: Pepe Reina, Luis Garcia (when he was still there), Xabi Alonso… and the told me that cheating is something they really despise. Things like diving to get a penalty or fake injury or exaggerate an aggression, that’s something they’re not very keen on…?

- Yes I don’t really think the refs are better or worse but the players in English football are more honest, more pure and they don’t like cheating because even your own team-mates will get on your back. I’m sure if you were to win a match because you dived and won a penalty even your own team-mates would be mad at you. The like to win doing things the right way and the refs benefit from that. They know that unless the foul is really a foul is difficult for the players to go down, you’d almost have to kill them…so they allow a lot more contact. There is more action and less stop time because less fouls are called but I’m not saying they’re better or worse. I think if the players in Spain helped the refs more then we could see the same type of refereeing.

And what seems to have almost disappeared is the ‘Hooligans’. They don’t do the same sort of thing that used to happen before right?

- Yes, I think it’s also seen in a negative way. They’re very small groups and it’s something they want to eradicate. The idea that people have of English supporters, of the European nights or late kickoffs, of how violent they get and the trouble they create wherever they go…that’s disappearing because it’s not seen with a keen eye.

That did a lot of harm to English football

- Yes, but now that I’m there and see what the supporters are really like it’s a completely different story so I’m not sure if its something that used to happen a long time ago or if it’s just a myth about something that happened long ago and people keep bringing up but I still haven’t seen that sort of thing.

And now that you know the regular English person, from the street now that you’ve been there a couple of months, what’s your impression?

- I think they’re very respectful. They know when to approach you, they don’t come over when you’re having a meal or when you’re spending time with your family. They usually will wait until you’re done eating dinner even if they have to wait a long time or if you’re in the training ground and they want an autograph and you’re fifty meters outside they won’t ask. It’s different, they know how to separate the personal life from life at the training ground. There are always exceptions but in general that’s how they behave. Also, the Liverpool fans is a very enthusiastic one, they might say ‘come on’ and that’s it they don’t get on top of you or start following you.

And what are the papers saying about Fernando Torres?

- [laughs] The truth is that it’s still a bit early for me to read the English press…

Yes but I’m sure they translate it for you…?

- No, honestly since there isn’t that daily following I probably get more news from Spain on the internet.

So what’s your day like. At what time do you wake up?

- Usually we need to be at Melwood by 9:15 AM so I’ll get up at 8:30. Then at 12:30 we have a meal and we’re home by 1.

You start training at what time?

- at 10. at 9:15 we eat breakfast

Is it a strong breakfast like the English like?

- Well, we have possibilities. Whatever you want, you can choose to eat a lot or not.

But you don’t eat that much

- No, no[laughs]so far I don’t.

And then you eat again at 12:15PM?

- Yes, 12:30PM or so. It depends at what time we finish. And then we go home. We’ll now that we’ve just gotten there there’s a lot of paperwork to do, the TV, changing banks, the car, it’s a bit hectic. And when you don’t really know what’s going on it’s worse [laughs]

And what’s it like to live in Liverpool?

- So far it’s been good. I’ve also had a lot of people come over and that’s helped me. It’s a small city but there’s a bit of everything, good restaurants, good shopping centres, and nice places to go for a walk and the only drawback is the weather.

But the food is not like in Spain, it’s terrible

- Not quite but there are some nice places.

I went with Morientes and Alcala’s friends to this place that was sort of imitating a Spanish restaurant but they served an octopus that was like eating razor blades

Alcala- [laughs] But there are better ones. There’s a few Italian restaurants that are quite good in Victoria Street.

The Spanish restaurants are not quite like we would imagine

Alcala- Jose Ramon, it’s also been a couple of Summer months and Fernando was telling me that he’s had a taste of the British weather but aren’t you a bit, not scared but respectful of the winter when it’s quite cold and at 3 pm it’s all dark and people don’t come out of their homes, when the shopping centers are closed, little social life. Because there are people like Xabi Alonso, who is very happy and has adapted very well and on the other side Fernando Morientes who had a tougher time with all that

- Well you never know, I’m not sure, we’ll see. That’s why I say there’s still a lot of time to go and be able to say I have adapted because everybody says that the winter is rough and difficult…right now for me I don’t think it will be a problem but we’ll see because at the end the important thing is to play football and that sort of weather is good for the matches, the state of the pitches and how we might approach a game.

Do you get to see a lot of Spanish football there?

- I’ve seen some, more highlights now with all the TV problems in Spain but we do follow it.

Torres: still a long way to go

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:48:00 +0000

Spanish striker Fernando Torres, delighted to have gotten off the mark yesterday in his new home at Anfield with a goal that earned his Liverpool team a draw against Chelsea (1-1), does not want to get ahead of himself and admits that he’s still “a long way to be at the same level” of his team-mates and to fully “adapt to the ‘Premier League’”, since he realizes that English football is “different” to Spain’s La Liga.

“Scoring goals will give me confidence and will make the adaptation process easier for me, but I’m still adjusting. I’ve just gotten here and the playing style is very different. The goals will make things a bit easier for me and I hope they keep coming but I’m still a long way from being at the same level as some of my team-mates”, declared Torres in his arrival to the national team’s congregation ahead of their friendly match against Greece on Wednesday.

He also revealed that he doesn’t feel ‘pressured’ but with a high degree of ‘responsibility’ for “the magnitude of the transfer and for the confidence shown in me” by various people. “I have to keep working, because good things come out of hard work. I hope the good results keep coming as they’ve done so far”.

The madrileño has the confidence that Liverpool will be ‘fighting at the top’ and knows that the key is to ‘stay close to the teams who will challenge” for the title, like they did last season. “The objective is to look no further than the match at hand, the season is very long and we will see what happens at the end”.

His new team is also different to Atletico. “It’s a different culture, Liverpool is one of the most unique teams, I’m not saying it’s better or worse but it’s a different story, a different atmosphere”, he highlighted. Yet, despite the distance, he doesn’t forget about his former team and on Saturday, “from the team bus”, he will be paying close attention to the derby.

“It seems that things are going quite well for them and I hope that the team clicks. The season is quite long and hopefully they will let the manager do his job and the players work without too much pressure”. “They have built a great team and now they just need time to adapt”. Finally, he showed his desire that the referee’s mistake yesterday, when he awarded a non-existent penalty to Chelsea, that drew the teams level, is just ‘an anecdote and not a usual occurrence’.

http://www.cadenaser.com/articulo/deportes/Torres/queda/muchisimo/estar/nivel/companeros/csrcsrpor/20070820csrcsrdep_11/Tes/

Interview with Insúa

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 17:48:00 +0000

Interview done by Horacio Garcia of Diario Ole and translated by Spanish Fan from the RAWK forum.

From Villa Urquiza to England. From Boca to Liverpool. Emiliano Insúa, 18 years of age, is making his way in the English Premier League. After winning the under 20 World Cup he returned to Argentina to rest for a few days and now is already in preseason with Rafa Benítez. The lad who left on loan at the beginning of the year for 170.000 euros with a buy option of 1,700,000 euros shared with Ole his experiences in Liverpool.

How has it been for you in England so far?

To be honest I can't complain. At Liverpool they have treated me fantastically well, and they are always around to help so that I have everything that I need. Regarding the football part I had the chance to start in two Premier League games against Portsmouth and Fulham and I was happy with my performance.

In what position are you playing?

The same as in the under 20's, left back. Rafa Benitez told me that I should play there because I lack height. In English football centerbacks and centerforwards are all very tall. So it is best that I play as a full back where I can put to use my skills on the ball coming out of the defense.

What has surprised you most?

Concerning football, the way they behave during games. There are no fences and everyone respect each other. The stadiums are always full. Everything is in the right place. Whether you win or lose players leave the stadium unaffected. Sometimes I feel I miss the support from the crowd, the taunting from the rival fans, the provocations, ha ha ha.

Your favourite players

The best, no doubt, is Steve Finnan Gerrard. The team revolves around him. Another player that has caught my eye is the giant Peter Crouch. In spite of his height he is very skillful. Other outstanding players are the Spanish goalkeeper Jose Reina, centerback Jamie Carragher, the Norwegian midfielder John Riise...Those are the most outstanding players. And now we have el Niño Torres and the Brazilian Lucas. We can't complain about lack of star players....

What do you do in a normal day at Liverpool?
Once I get up I wait for Paletta to pick me up. When we get (to Melwood) we have breakfast first with all the squad, half an hour before the training session. We have tea and toasts with different types of jam, but most of the people have scrambled eggs with ham. One different habit is that once the training session is over you can have lunch in the canteen. Most of the players do. Different habits..
Anyway, those are the only moments that you share with the rest of the squad. Afterwards everyone does their own thing. If you are waiting for someone to invite you you are wasting your time.

What was the most difficult thing for you?
The language. Luckily Rafa speaks Spanish. Driving on the other side is not a problem I face. Paletta drives or I get a driver.

Where do you stay?

The club put me up in a house with an old English couple. They are something like surrogate parents for me. They are lovely. They take care of me and make sure I have everything I need. This is something they are doing with all the young players recruited from all over the world so that we can settle better.

Are they very strict?
They give me freedom, but they have to abide by the rules the club set for us. A few months ago my mum and my girlfriend came over to visit me but they couldn't stay in the house.

Do you follow Argentinian football?

By the minute. I bought a device and can watch Argentinian TV via the internet. I spent 800 dollars, a very good investment. Didn't I enjoyed Boca win in the Libertadores Cup! I love that club. I arrived there when I was 9. I have lots of friends there. Besides, Boca were great when I had this chance to join Liverpool and never opposed to the move. Also, the experience I got from travelling around helped me out when moving to Liverpool. In my heart I feel I am in debt with them, and that I can pay them back wearing the Boca shirt one day. I know I will.

http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2007/08/03/01470440.html

Thanks to Spanish Fan of RAWK for the top-notch translation

Fernando Torres: "I was sick of listening to the "Champions League" anthem on the telly"

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 03:19:00 +0000

"I was sick of listening to the "Champions League" anthem on the telly"

by Enrique Ortego ABC

It was one of the main reasons why he left home. The European adventure was proving to be too elusive season after season and he's had to sign for Liverpool to realize it. "I had imagined many times before how the first day would be like. I always dreamed that it would come at Atletico but it wasn't meant to be. Yesterday at last i heard the "Champions League" music live and not on the TV. If you knew how many matches I've watched before in front of the TV set dreaming of this day. I also remember being at El Calderón[as a fan] for the CL games after the double[in '96]. I can't forget Dani's goal for Ajax, i was about 12 at the time...".

His only continental experience at club level has been three Intertoto elimination rounds with Atletico(summer of 2004), but Villarreal denied them the chance to play the UEFA that time. Yesterday was different. It was the "Champions", the competition he's always wanted to play in. With the national team he had already played in a Euro Cup and a World Cup. "I compare it to those two competitions because of their media transcendence, but it is played over a period of nine months and there is more time to savor it. If you go deep in the competition, that is"

Three debuts in a week

It will be a very difficult month of August to forget for Fernando Torres. Everything is flying past him. "I haven't even had the time to really talk think about it or talk about it. Yesterday was my Premier League debut and we came away with the win, yesterday it was the "Champions"and we also won, and on sunday i will step in Anfield for the first time to play a match. Everybody tells me that until i listen to "You'll Never Walk Alone" inside our stadium it's as if i've never really heard it properly. I almost get no time to enjoy each step im taking and it will be the same for the whole season, because we also have to play with the national team".

His team-mates have already told him all their CL stories. And they have plenty since they've played two of the last three finals. They won it at Istanbul and lost it in Athens. "It's the lucky talisman competition for Liverpool. They've won five. They tell me that it's a team that have always known how to face up a knock-out competition. It's a tradition. But it's curious that i come here thinking abou the "Champions" because it's a special competition for me but in the team everybody is thinking about the Premier. It must be because many of them won at Istanbul but they've never won the league. By the way, neither have I. The club hasn't done it for 17 years and here everyone believes this could be the year".

Benitez embraces him and believes in him

So far, with a very busy pre-season, he hasn't had the time to quite settle in Liverpool. The team nor the city. But his outlook couldn't be more positive. In the dressing room he
has been very welcomed. Benitez is more convinced every day that he has gotten it right with his signing. Yesterday, for example, at Toulouse's Sofitel he was sincere with ABC. "I'm happy with his performance. We're just getting started. Everything is very new for him but he is taking it all in very naturally. He realizes that this is a different world. That is very different to what he has experienced before. He knows that he is at a very big club and destined to do great things. He must be patient, take it a step at a time. Here, the English press will smother him, especially when he doesn't score goals. But we're very calm. At least he is and that is very important".

Professor, dressing room and the stretcher

The manager wants to squeeze the goals out of "The Kid". He wants him to play in the box or as close to it as possible. To exploit his velocity and his power. His diagonal runs, his un-marking. He doesn't want to see him on the wings a whole lot. He would rather have him be the front man, a reference up front...except when he plays next to the giant Crouch, then he will need to take advantage of his knock-downs and passes inside the area or arriving from outside.

Being the most expensive player in the history of Liverpool will always be a tag on Fernando. The Anfield club has invested 26,5 million Euros on him to be paid in three years. Far from the 36 that Atletico assures to have cashed in. At most you could say that the operation was worth 30, because Luis Garcia's valuation was of 3,5.

Fernando is seen in the "hall" of the Hotel near his Spanish team-mates, although one of the advice Benitez has given him is to form relationships with all the players. As a matter of fact, in the course of the season he will share a room with most of them because the manager rotates them when they travel. He spent Tuesday night with Finnan. "He's a good Irish boy, his English is perfect for me to practice with him. It's easier to understand than the Liverpool accent".

That will be his other "job". To learn English. With so much traveling and so many matches he's only had one day to spend with the professor that the club has at Melwood, for him and the other dozen of players who don't dominate the language, that way they can practice and study as needed. He has already learned the basic things to communicate with his team-mates, but he will need to get stuck in "because i only took english lessons at school, no academies or anything, although i probably should've. Yet, where you really learn is on the go, training, in the dressing room and in the physio's room".

Impressed with Gerrard

In Melwood he gets dressed next to Gerrard, the great captain, and Voronin. "Everything is organized. Everything goes by the numbers and since i'm number 9 i get dressed next to 8(Gerrard) and 10(Voronin). Every match is the same way. The clothes are set there for you. In the team bus, the veterans get in first and the new boys just take the remaining empty spaces".

But who has him really impressed is Gerrard. "He's the best player i've ever trained with in my whole life", confesses Fernando in "petit comité". The captain has adopted him since the first day and never loses sight of him. Like Reina or Xabi Alonso, who introduce him to the atmosphere and keep him up to date with the Club's customs, something indispensable when you talk about Liverpool , a traditional club.

Paletta close to Boca

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 05:05:00 +0000

Various Argentinian Papers are reporting that there is an agreement with the player and Liverpool. Clarin say that there is a verbal agreement with Liverpool and the player himself and they just need to finalize all the details.

On that note, Horacio Garcia(who covers Boca Juniors for Diario Ole) reveals that Paletta's initial year loan could become permanent with Insua staying at Liverpool on a permanent deal as part of the operation.

The details are:

Regarding Insua: For Insua's loan, which runs all the way until June 30th, 2008, Liverpool paid €170,000 and have an option to buy of €1.7m and Boca gets to keep 20% of his future transfer. Besides that, Boca will get €200,000 if he plays 20 matches for Liverpool and another €200, 000 if he gets to play 30 matches for the first team and the same thing if he gets to 40 matches.

Regarding Paletta: Liverpool would make the Insua transfer a permanent one(€1.7m), in exchange of 50% ownership of Paletta to Boca. Boca would get to keep Paletta and they would split 50-50 with Liverpool off any future transfer for him and besides that Liverpool would get a buy-back option.

Thanks to Horacio Garcia of Diario Ole for the insight.

Welcome to my blog

noreply@blogger.com (Alex) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:52:00 +0000

The idea is to bring non-Spanish speaking Liverpool supporters relevant news regarding their club, players, managers, etc... Ever since the arrival of Rafa Benitez and the subsequent influx of Spanish and South-American players, there has been a good amount of interest in the Spanish media regarding Liverpool FC and the Spanish contingent. This has resulted in a good wealth of original news, interviews and insight into the manager, players and the Club.

In my experience, reading through 'Reds' forums and talking to the supporters, people enjoy this different perspective and coverage. So my aim is to provide a translation of these as they become available or per request when possible. I am not a professional translator but i will try to do the best job possible to interpret, process and translate an accurate depiction of those news, interviews, etc... So please feel free to discuss, critique or offer your help as you see fit and lets enjoy this season and hope there is much to celebrate in the near future! Nunca Caminarás Solo (YNWA)