Player Interviews Galore!

By: Corey | July 24th, 2008

My midterms didnt go so well, but there done, so here is another post for you to enjoy. Again, I am taking an early weekend, so no posts tomorrow. But here is a bunch of player interviews to enjoy. See you next week.

Michel Salgado Press Conference

Isn’t it strange not to have any new players on the team at this stage?
It’s strange on this team, but I actually think it’s quite normal. Last year was good and the Club wants to take things easy this time around. I think what’s best is that we continue to have a strong group of players, which is where our strength lies. We are not too worried about it.

Do you think the current squad is enough to aspire to win all the titles you will play for this campaign?
We aren’t worried about it. We will be delighted with whomever the Club decides to bring. Our core is very good and, most importantly, has players that continue to grow. The average age of the squad is good. Some of the player’s we’ve had on the team for one and a half to two years will be even more important next year. I agree with the Club’s intentions to sign people in order to add to what we already have and not to make the team flashier. I think they are doing a good job.

Guti believes the only thing that may need reinforcements is the team’s attacking front.
We sholdn’t really comment on that. The Club is taking things easy. It all depends on if some of our players will leave or not. We have many forwards, so I’m not too worried about it.

What could Cristiano Ronaldo bring to the team?
He is excellent in one-on-ones, something really difficult, and he always makes a difference. But I don’t think we should all go nuts for one signing. His signing will be good if it comes to fruition because he will surely do important things for the team and we will all welcome that, but we will continue to work the same way we’re doing now if he doesn’t join us in the end.

Are you veterans worried about the possible arrival of such a media-friendly player?
I understand people to think it would give way to a situation we lived in the past, but I don’t think it would be same. Back then, we had six or seven very famous players and things got slightly out of hand, making things hard for the Club for some years. Nowadays, our dressing room is under control. We have great people here and the Club is controlling the team well. I don’t think anything will happen if Ronaldo comes. I’ve been told by people who know him that he is a hard worker. He is very famous and things would be harder for us during trips, training sessions and such things, but I don’t think it would cause a problem in the dressing room.

Do you think he could help the Club win its tenth European Cup?
I think we will be strong contenders for the title with or without him. He can add a bit more to our game. It’s a bit hard to talk about a player that isn’t on the team. The only thing we cand do is help in any way we can if he does arrive. It seems people would really like him to join us. We can’t really comment on much more, especially on an economic level. It would be great if he comes, but if he doesn’t we will continue to try to win the Tenth and everything that will be at stake for us next year. It will be wrong to think our only goal this year is the Champions League. I’m a bit weary about that; it could cause problems for us and make us lose focus on the league.

What do you think about the signings Queen’s Park Rangers are making?
I have no idea. I just had lunch with a couple of friends. They told me about the project and it sounds beautiful, but that’s it. I feel great here. This is where I want to retire as long as more interesting projects don’t come along. I’m not sure about playing in England. My goal right now is to win another league and the tenth European Cup with Real Madrid.

How is it like going from being an unquestionable starter to being on the bench?
More than Real Madrid, I believe its the years who have relocated me on the team. I’m nearly 33 years old and I’ve played many games for this team. Seasons come to an end. Things changed drastically after my injury against Levante and I wasn’t very happy with my performances last year. My main goal this year is to play as much as I can. I’m not here to enjoy the ride, but to help the squad. I’m sure it needs help. There is a big difference between the four of us who have been here for many years and those who have been on the team four years at the most. We can help players to integrate themselves and to help things flow smoothly. We can also help the team perform better than it did last year because, if I’m honest with you, I wasn’t thrilled with our performances. More than yet another ‘relocation’, at this age I look for new experiences. The mind is the only thing that can play against you, not your body. I feel fit, but my mind sometimes is against me. I have to stregthen it.

Are you your best psychologist?
Yes, there’s no doubt about it. I know what I can do and I know how life is in football. Life is comprised by different stages and this is a new one for me. I have to get used to it.

How is Robinho doing?
He’s alright, but it’s sometimes tough when you hear you’re out and then that you’re back in again. We want him to be happy. I hope things are settled for him to have peace of mind and play as he’s always done. He is our most important player in one-on-ones, so his injury is a bit of a setback. We want him to be happy and to feel well, so that we can demand much more of him. He is good enough to become an important player on this team.

Can you imagine Samuel Eto’o returning to Real Madrid?
I don’t like to talk about speculations. I can talk about Cristiano Ronaldo because I know people are very interested in the matter. I can also talk about Van der Vaart, but I will not feed speculation. I don’t know what’s going on.

Vicente del Bosque is the new Spanish national coach. Are you happy for him?
Yes. He deserves it. I think Luis Aragonés made the team take a necessary step forwards. I am very happy for Vicente because I’ve shared many important experiences and titles with him on this team.

Pepe to El Larguero

“We are working very hard. The holidays are over and we are currently tackling the toughest part of the pre-season.”

“Our minds are at ease because the team has quality players that have proven they can play well. Speculations on possible signings don’t affect us.”

“Real Madrid should always fight in every competition. We will try to reach as far as possible in every championship we take part in. We will have to wrok very hard to be ready for our important matches.”

“I am doing a lot of work to try to avoid getting injured again, but I’m a human being and bad things sometimes happen. I hope to play many games.”

“Robinho feels fine and happy. He is excited about playing this year.”

“I’ve talked to Cristiano and I think he will be well received if he joins the team. He will have no problem. He likes Madrid and is aware of the greatness of the Club.”

“Real Madrid is an historical team. Every player wants to play here. I was ready for it and I believe I know the Club much better now. I think this will ease things for me this year.”

“Spain had a great team in the Euro 2008. We in Portugal lacked a bit of maturity. That’s the way it sometimes goes in football.”

Robben to Marca

Has anything changed inside you in the past year?

I hope so. I naturally want to play more games this season, that’s my main goal. I want to be fitter, not get injured so often. I can be a very strong and confident player when I’m in good form. I couldn’t be as important as I wanted in my first year. I proved what I am capable of in several matches, but I have to play more this year.

How can you achieve that?

I need to be fit from the very start of the campaign, something I haven’t been able to do in the last two years here and at Chelsea. I began both campaigns with an injury, which makes it very hard to recover and keep up with the team’s pace.

Are you less vulnerable to injuries now?

I think so, but that’s always hard to know for sure. I can tell you I currently feel very well, but anything could happen tomorrow to change that… That’s why I don’t like talking about this much. I do my best to avoid getting injured; I work extra with our physios and recovery experts to strengthen my body. There’s nothing more I can do, really.

Is the work you do at Real Madrid very different to what you did at Chelsea?

Not much. There’s always something different when you join a new team; you discover new things and work slightly differently. It’s all been good work till now.

Which is the main problem you have with injuries?

Many things affect this matter, but it basically has to do with my back, which can affect my muscles negatively if it isn’t completely right. That’s the main problem, but I’ve nevertheless read articles on this matter that have made me laugh out loud because of how stupid they sounded. People sometimes look for strange explanations. I know I have to work hard on my back and to develop strength and flexibility in my muscles.

Is it sometimes more important to work on the mind than on the body?

I don’t think so. I feel strong in my head. I don’t suffer from anxiety and I am not scared about getting injured. That’s not the problem. It is nevertheless true that you feel rather frustrated when you get injured three or four times; it’s much harder to come back from that. I would have many more problems if this had affected my mind. I’ve always come back stronger from my injuries. It’s just a physical problem.

You’ve had one year to adapt to the team. May that help?

I don’t think that will have much influence on me getting injured less. I feel happy here and I get along very well with all my teammates. I like to live in Madrid. Everything’s great; I just want to play more and prove myself at Real Madrid, the greatest Club in the world. I want to show Madridistas that I am a great football player, that’s all.

What can Real Madrid achieve this year?

Our goals are always the same: La Liga and the Champions League.

Can this team be even stronger?

Hardly anything’s changed for now and we don’t know what’s going to happen. The important thing is that the team doesn’t change much. We are a young squad that can only do better.

Will you strive to play as well as you did at the end of the previous campaign?

Yes. That was great, but I can do much better. I think my best performance came in the match against Barcelona. It helped me gain more confidence.

Heinze to Al Primer Toque

The pre-season
“We had a very nice experience in the Algarve. It was beautiful. We all had a great time. I’m sure most of us would want to have that experience again.”

“Those of us here in Irdning shouldn’t have to wory about those who may join us this summer. It is more important to worry about keeping such a strong group going. These days are necessary for us to get into shape and work very hard.”

Future teammates
“We shouldn’t worry about who may join the team. I train hard in order to play, although that’s up to the coach to decide. Our reinforcements must also work hard to earn a spot on the team.”

Future goals
“Our success last season is of no use to us now. We can’t live on the past. We all know each year is different. The pre-season should serve us to set the groundwork for the upcoming campaign.”

“We still haven’t talked about our goals for this year. We should take things easy and fight for every title because they are all important.”

“I never look at what other teams do. I only look at what my teammates do because they are the ones who can make me happy.”