He is not unaware of the low
temperatures we are experiencing, but he knows that it´s more important
to catch up with Barcelona. They expect a frozen pitch in Soria, but if
they finally play, Ronaldo isn´t going to look for excuses. The
Brazilian player was sincere about his annoyance of last Sunday: “I
don´t know any player happy of being changed. The only problem is that
there were TV camaras”. He doesn´t ignore the gossips about the signings,
but Ronie, with his usual sense of humour, was firm: “Great, let´s have
more forwards, and we will finish all our games with 8-7, but with me as
main player”.
- The cold spell battering Spain right now is changing your plans of
training, is it being very hard for you?
- Well, I have already lived a long time in Europe and I´m used to it.
Who is suffering is the coach, because he´s stopped during the trainings.
But yes, the cold is incredible, specially today. The pitch was very
hard and we haven´t been able to do what Luxemburgo wanted. We have lost
one day because of the condition of the pitch.
- Have you played on pitches as the one expected for the game against
Numancia?
- Yes, when I played in PSV, we had a game in Germany and the pitch was
frozen. Even with the shoes special for ice, we were slipping. However,
we will have to win.
- Are the players worried about the condition of the pitch Los Pajaritos?
- Of course. If it´s frozen and we must play, it´ll be very complicated.
If so, we won´t look for excuses and we will have to win in order to get
a little bit closer to Barça. If it gets too dangerous, we will have to
estimate the risk for the players. You cannot play if you slip all the
time, though we hope the weather will change.
- The leader play in Seville, and you in Soria, it seems a day perfect
to shorten points.
- It could be, but we won´t have an easy game, specially if the weather
keeps on so cold. Though Barcelona have things more complicated because
Sevilla are playing good, as they proved at the Bernabéu, where they won.
- Barcelona have become stronger with Albertini, do you see him as a
signing with guarantees?
- He´s a great player. Barcelona, with all the injuries of their players,
have been left with a short team, so I´m sure he will be good for them.
- It seems Ronaldinho is losing the joy that characterized him during
his first year in Barcelona. Do you know if something is wrong?
- It has been a while since I haven´t talked to him. I see him as usual,
I just hope he´s not affected by the problem between Sandro Rosell and
the President. He must keep himself out of the situation, even though he
has a good relationship with Rosell, but as the professional he is, he
must be out of it.
- Last Wednesday we could see how you were suffering in the test of
resistance. How do you explain it?
- I´m a sprinter, not a long-distance runner.
- Adriano looks the next objective, alter the apparent arrival of
Robinho.
- I know him very well. People are talking about Robinho, and Adriano,
but I cannot give my opinion because I don´t know the truth. I play for
Real Madrid. Adriano is my friend and a great player.
- Though it seems that the story repeats with Adriano and there are
denials of the rumours, contradictory phases…
- It´s the usual story, if a player wants to leave, he leaves. Specially
if a big Club is interested in him, and he has made up his mind, there´s
no way to stop him. I haven´t talked with Adriano. I think he has talked
and he has said that he was fed up with all this. The dream of every
player is to come to Real Madrid. We are in the greatest Club in the
World and everybody wants to play here. First you should ask if Real
Madrid Club is interested. I´m not informed about what managers think.
- People always talk about forwards, are you worried?
- I´m happy if the best forwards come. I´m sure we will score many goals.
We all are compatible, it´s going to be incredible!. The problem is
going to be for the coach. Each game will finish with 8-7, 7-7… there
will be new players and all of them will play, and they all will be
attackers. I hope these players will come, but I wish I will keep my
place.
- Michael Owen is calling to the door of permanent players with his
scoring average. How do you value his performance of this first round?
- He has a great average, every time he goes out he scores. He also
makes great plays and he moves very well. We all knew what a great
player he is.
- Last Sunday, we saw you upset when Luxemburgo replaced you.
- I don´t know any player who wouldn´t get upset when he´s replaced. I
want to play always, because I know that I can help my team. The bad
luck is that I held my annoyance until reaching the dressing room where
there was a TV camara. For respect to my player fellows and the public I
didn´t show any angry move in public.
- Are you fed up with your substitutions?
- No, I accept everything. I never ask for explanations about the
changes, or about why I play. It´s clear that there aren´t untouchable
players, but there are people who are always touched, like me.
- That can be a reason for the success of Luxemburgo, that there aren´t
untouchable players.
- I don´t know. I don´t have to ask explanations about my changes, or
when I play. Luxemburgo does what he thinks appropriate for the team,
but he doesn´t have to satisfy any player. I don´t think he´s using me
as example for the team. He just thinks that sometimes other players can
contribute more than me.
- All the players have supported the renewal of Solari. What do you
think?
- I would love him to stay and he will get his situation fixed. Besides
being my friend, he has always proved to be a great player.
- Gravesen has arrived, and last Sunday he proved that he can be a very
important player in the defensive aspect.
- He was a player very needed by this team, but we have always tried to
do it well, giving the most, though it was far from our natural
positions. Gravesen provides more confidence, because we defend better
with one more player and he helps to defend. It´s one more option for
the coach.
- It seems the main victim will be Guti.
- I see him very well. I have always said, he was the player that most
surprised me when I first arrived to Madrid. He got sick at the
beginning of the year and he lost weight and now he´s recovering. The
coach has a nice problem, because he´s got many options.
- And within fifteen days, Juventus.
- It will be a great game. We are still smarting from our defeat at the
semifinals two years ago. We want to change the story and get over them,
though what matters is to arrive without injured players.
- Don´t you think that this game comes too soon?
- Yes, i wish it would be later because it´s a great game, worthy of a
final. We have it now and we will be ready. The coach is doing a great
work, we are improving a lot tactically and we will be in top form for
that game.
- It´s just been announced the destitution of Vicente del Bosque as
coach of Besiktas, what do you think?
- I had a great relationship with Vicente. He is a person that doesn´t
have to prove anything to anybody. He´s a great person and a great coach.
I´m sorry for him, it was a complicated challenge, without talking the
language, specially being the coach. |
