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Liu-liu
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The Club is making good signings, setting good foundations for the future"
Real Madrid's goalkeeper enjoys the last days of his holiday. He spoke to AS from Navalcruz in Ávila, where he has his Summer School. Three hundred kids have the chance of learning how to play football with him there.
How's the summer going?
Rather well. I rested a lot, but I have also done some charity work. I was in Sierra Leone opening some schools and I managed to visit the kids in my Summer Camp. I try to help in any way I can. The school here in Navalcruz is the fourth we open and we have just borught water and electricity to the place. I am very happy because I never thought we could pull it off. All this started a few years ago after a silly conversation. We didn't want to achieve much, but we have come a long way since then.
How was your trip with the Club's Foundation to Sierra Leone?
It was an unforgettable experience, truly incredible. We don't think much about how badly people live there. We are very privileged in this part of the world and being Real Madrid's goalkeeper gave me the chance of travelling there. It was sad to see it, but the experience was very enriching. I think I've helped to make kids there slightly happier. The world of football is truly crazy. I never imagined children from villages in that country would recognise me. This was my first trip there and it won't be my last.
Have you managed to disconnect from football during your holiday?
Yes, I have. I haven't heard much about what's going on because I've been travelling quite a bit. I went to Cuba with my friends, where I watched the presentation of Schuster on the international version of RealmadridTV. I also heard about Fernando Torres' signing for Liverpool.
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What do you think of Schuster?
I don't know him personally. I used to watch him play for Real Madrid when I was a kid. Everyone says great things about him as a coach. He seems anxious to want to do great things at the Club, so we are all very glad he's joined us. All of us Madridistas want the Club to be at the top of its game again, as it deserves. We players are going to help him make things work out.
Do you think Real Madrid will regain their good style with Schuster? Will the team go back to playing beautifully, attacking down the wings and being creative?
Schuster has made his mark on all the other teams he's coached and Getafe are the best example of that. They played very good football last year. They never gave up, ending the League on a comfortable position on the table and qualifying for next season's UEFA Cup. They couldn't have done better than that and now we will have to do even better because this Club is much more demanding.
He said during his presentation that Raúl would have to help the team out from the very start...
We will all have to do that. We want to win the League again and to fight hard for the Champions League title. We will all work hard from day one to achieve our goals.
Metzelder and Pepe pointed you out as a clear example of how to triumph at Real Madrid. What do you think of that?
I am very grateful to them. It's always nice to have quality players thinking about you. I am sure they will adapt to the team very quickly.
Both have arrived to strengthen the team's defence. They are very tall, just like Schuster likes his defenders to be.
The Club is doing a good job at strengtheniing the team. It has made very good signings. It is setting good foundations for the future, which is the most important thing. We will do the rest.
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Dudek will be signed as the team's new goalkeeper. He doesn't seem to mind being the team's second keeper, knowing he will only play occasionally.
I am very happy with having reinforcements in any position and I believe Dudek and I will be in healthy competition anyway because no one has earned a position indefinitely on this team. I can't be hipocritical and believe that I will play in every game form the very start. On the contrary, I have to earn that spot.
It seems you learned from when you stopped being a starter in 2002.
That helped me mature as a player. I am experienced enough to know that one isn't a starter always. I had to earn my spot, competing with keepers such as Illgner, Bizarri, César and Diego López. It would be excessive for me to think that I have earned the right to be a starter all the time.
The best thing of the Copa America is that Robinho has given signs of being the star player of the League next season.
I am delighted with how he has performed. He is my teammate and I am very happy for him. He has played perfectly in the Copa and that is good for Real Madrid. I'm sure we will notice the difference.
Do you believe Saviola to be a good signing?
Of course. The Club has been very clever once again. He was free from Barcelona, he is young and has exceptional talent. He is very fast and I am sure he will adapt to the team very quickly. There will be a lot of competition on the squad, but we need that. We needed decisive players and Saviola is just that: he is a young and very driven player. The fact that he comes from Barcelona proves he's got it all.
Do you think Cesc and Kaká will ever play for Real Madrid?
I honestly don't know. It is the talk of every summer. Cesc and I are teammates when we play for Spain. I wish both would join Real Madrid at some point.
Will you miss Beckham and Roberto Carlos?
Naturally, they were with us many years, especially Roberto. But, someday, I will have to leave too. That's life. We wished them all the best when they left and we will keep an eye on them.
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You just said you found out Fernando Torres was leaving Atletico Madrid when you were in Cuba. Were you surprised by this?
Yes, I was, but I know Fernando and I know how difficult it's been for him to take this step. He didn't want to leave Atletico, but in the case of having to do so, he would only play for a team outside Spain to avoid hurting Atletico in any way. I'm sure he must be hurt, but I know he will do well.
You'll still see him when you both play for Spain...
Yes. I'll see him in September and we may even face each other in the Champions League.
What do you think of Barcelona's signings?
They are working according to plan. Barcelona will be very strong next year. We needed to win something last season and taking the league title made us immensely happy. We needed this in order to do something great in the future. Barcelona are in need of titles now
I was asking you about their signings...
Yes, yes. It will be wonderful to see Henry playing in Spain; I'm sure he will do very well in the League. We've always had a bittersweet feeling whenever we've faced him. I hope this changes in the Spanish competition.
What will you do in the next few days?
I will go to Thailand and spend the last days of my holiday in Madrid.
| Carmen Colino/AS Photography: Realmadrid.com Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell |
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Liu-liu
Re: _; )) , 17 2007 . 21:39 ()
