Scrap paper

http://www.realmadrid.com/articulo/rma42262.htm

31st August 2007

Raúl in depth

“I really like this squad, a mix of experienced veterans and promising youngsters”

Raúl is enjoying some of his greatest success in recent years. Thanks to Schuster, he has taken back his position as a forward, his favourite spot on the pitch. Raúl continues setting examples for his teammates both on and off the field. In an interview with Spanish sports daily AS, the Madridista captain affirms that he takes each match and training session “as if it was the last of my life.” That’s the philosophy of the the best Spanish footballer over the last decade.

The fans rose their feet during the derby to cheer for some of your plays. It had been a while since they were so devoted to you.
It was a special night. First game of the League after being champions, a derby and, what’s more, it was the first time in a long time that we actually felt like we were having fun playing. Atletico is a great rival. We were all having fun during various phases, both individually and as a group. The fans never stopped cheering for us. It felt very similar to the “Together we can” movement.

Yes, but Madrid only played with heart in the final three months of last season, while in the derby there was also good football.
It was a very free-flowing game and the fans had fun. All the ingredients mixed perfectly and the two teams put up a fight. We focused on attacking and that’s what lead to a great game.

There were a lot of great playmakers on the field and no double pivot.
We had Sneijder, Robinho and Guti in the midfield and Van Nistelrooy in front of me. They are all very good and it’s hard not to create good football when they are on the pitch.

And you’re back in your natural position as a second forward.
Yes. Bernd had wanted me to play closer to the box since he arrived. That’s why I have had more chances and free reign to move up. But it’s not just me. Having a natural striker, a three-man line in the midfield, and the liberty to look for open spaces guarantee good football. The Bernabéu is wise and took notice.

On Saturday there were more one touch combinations between you, Sneijder, Guti, and Robinho than there were all of last season.
Although we have liberty to move around, it’s important that we know how to cover open space. If the opponent gets the ball, we coordinate like an accordion to pressure by zones and to keep the opponent from seeing open seas to progress with the ball. Playing good football doesn’t mean forgetting that football is about coming and going. If you attack you first have to defend to regain possession.

How’s the new sporting project coming along?
The team experienced ten changes and some just joined us last week. We still need time, but it’s clear that there is more than enough talent to believe.

What are Schuster’s orders?
Win, play well, and have fun. They have always been Madrid’s ideals. That said, Atleti did take risks and that helped us a lot. If a team closes up in defence it will be very difficult to repeat the derby show.

Was it hard doing away with Capello’s conservative style?
We’re professionals and everyone knows that coaching changes in big clubs like Madrid are normal. I’ve played for Madrid for 13 years and have had a dozen or so. I can only recall that Del Bosque had some sort of continuity. But players are like sponges and we can assimilate new ideas in two weeks. It may be hard to suffer a blow like that of the Super Cup, but it also helped us open our eyes and realise the mistakes that we had to avoid against Atleti. We have to have a strong mind-set and we know that the team will be chugging along in three or four matchdays.

Were you surprised that Capello was sacked?
I always said that decisions and evaluations can only be made once the season has ended. The club made the decision and the players only duty is to show up at Valdebebas to train and to win titles. No one is indispensable, especially within a club like Madrid.

When Schuster first joined, he said that you would have to be his right-hand man.
He knew me very well based on my career and because we have mutual friends. Seeing eachother on a daily basis is important and we both already know what we want. The coach doesn’t have a problem with me and vice versa. He knows that I’m a disciplined hard worker and that I am ready to help when he needs it. Now we have a more internal role.

What would that be?
To help the newest arrivals integrate as fast as possible. This is a complex and demanding club, so it’s necessary that the veterans help whenever possible. There’s a great group of young and eager players, which helps. Our preseason results weren’t that great, but the dressing room never caved in because of them.

And you didn’t confront Pepe for spitting in Cadiz?
We have to surround and protect Pepe. He made a mistake and we already discussed the matter. He’s got a lot of personality and is a natural-born winner. He won’t make the same mistake and he needs to focus all his energy on his football. Pepe is going to do very well and I am sure the famous €30 million and the incident in Cadiz will be forgotten. He has made a good turnaround and the Bernabéu and Madridistas will like what they see.

Did Madrid sign more men than names?
No press darlings came in, but some important players did. A team’s success is based on balance. There are no more ‘Galacticos’ without Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Beckham, and Roberto Carlos. Those who came in this summer are excited, hungry, and in one or two years may be world stars. We have a good mix of experienced veterans and promising youngsters. It’s a well-balanced squad. I like it a lot.

Is it easier for you to be captain now that there are no superstars?
Things are a lot calmer now. That time period hurt everyone; the dressing room, the club, and everything that surrounds it. Ahora todo es más tranquilo. Aquella época perjudicó a todo el mundo. Al vestuario, al club, al entorno. The club’s image was also affected and deteriorated with the so-called Galacticos. But historic values were recovered this year and the road to success should be easier. Anything that takes place within this club is important. There’s turmoil after two defeats, but now we only habe ups and downs due to sporting reasons.

Do you see any similarities between that old Madrid and today’s Barça?
Barça have a great squad and you can’t forget that they we finished we the same number of points last year. They made some great signings but the more stars you have, the harder it is to adapt. They are very talented and will be battling by out side all season long. But look out for Sevilla, Valencia -despite their slip-up-, Atletico, and Villarreal.

Villarreal?
Yes, they are a very uniform team and have been working well together for many years. They are going to give us an all-out war on Sunday in El Madrigal. I wouldn’t put anything past them. This is going to be a very open League.

We now see Casillas leaping with his hands up, there aren’t 11 men in the box to defend corners, there aren’t volleys from way back. Schuster’s style has nothing to do with Capello’s.
It’s another way of seeing football. All tactics seek victory, but Bernd’s formula allows us to play the ball up from the back and that team has gotten used to that idea. It’s much more simple with the type of players we have on the current roster. We know feel like we own the game and the ball.

Owen and Cassano left Madrid and the door has been opened for Baptista. Furthermore, Soldado and Saviola are substitutes. Should the club forget about finding players that will lead you to hanging up your boots?
You earn the right to play during training sessions and matches because nothing is just given to you at Madrid. But don’t forget that we have three competitions to play and that players will need to be rotated and rested. I am sure Soldado and Saviola will have their matches and opportunitied. Ruud is returning to his national team and Higuaín should get his first call soon. Everyone will have a chance to shine.

And yourself?
I’m continuing on as always without stopping. I take each training session and match as if it was my last. I can’t live in the past. That’s why I was so happy on Saturday. I have a lot of individual and collective goals set for this year. My dream is to return to the national team and to play in the Euro 2008. So you’re eager to see who Aragonés calls up today?
The coach has to make decisions and all I can do is perform my best and hope he picks me. Qualifying for the Euro is very important and playing for your national team is what every footballer dreams of. I’m working hard to return to the national team, and I’ve made it clear since the first day I wasn’t called up.

What’s your secret to being as strong as a bull?
I have always taken care of my body and I know my limits. The key is training well, having a healthy diet, and resting enough to wake up fresh the following day. I want to play for another three to five years before calling it quits, but I’ll only do so playing my best. I will not drag it out. That said, how am I going to be in bad shape with the physios, doctors, and dietitians we have here who control every details of what we do?

How much sleep do you get?
Eight or nine hours; the ideal for an athlete. If I sleep less, I try to recover with a nice nap, but it’s easier said than done with the nursery I have at home (Raúl has four children). Accumulating fatigue takes its toll in matches.

And what’s the key to keeping fresh?
For me it’s the preseason, where I refuel for the rest of the year. Everything hurts when you go to bed, but your legs start appreciating all the hard work. I still have a few years of football left in me and I take care of myself the best I can so people know that I am fresh and in top form as long as I remain an active player.

Is training well that important? Your coaches say they put you in the starting lineups because you earn it in training sessions.
Not training well is reflected in matches. The work you do throughout the week is what rewards you in games. I felt very fresh in the second half against Atleti, surely the result of the previous week’s training sessions.

What advice would you give to those who keep looking for your expiration date?
They have a right to think what they want about my output. I just ask for some respect because I am honest on the pitch and I believe that the professionals, coaches amd teammates are those who truly know me annd they know what I contribute to the team and the club. Would you be a good substitute or, on the other hand, bad-tempered?
I have never pressured a coach into playing me and I have never refused to sit. I just train each day and do what the coach asks of me. Of course I am always eager to play, but I have never demanded being a starter. Whoever things that I would complicate the life of a coach by being a substitute doesn’t know me.

Madrid now has less Brazilians and is counting on the Dutch style of football. How familiar are you with it?
I’ve seen videos from the 1974 German World Cup and the 1978 Argentine World Cup where they were the runners-up. They pressure in attack, one-touch the ball, and seek the wings. It’s plastic and offensive football. The Quinta del Buitre played along that same line. That’s who I did watch as a kid. But there was an inbalance then that now doesn’t exist in our League.

If you believe in coincidence, the Seventh European Cup was won under German coach Heynckes and German keeper Illgner. Now there’s Schuster and a giant in Metzelder. Smells like the Tenth to me.
The Champions League is obviously one of our main goals this year, but recovering our European prestige is more important that winning the title. We’ve fallen in the Round of 16 several straight years now and the least we want is to make it to the semifinals.

Werder Bremen, Lazio, and Olympiacos.Your thoughts on your Champions League rivals?
They are all very hard. Our goal is to win one game at a time and to get as far as possible.

Will we see better football this year compared to last year?
It really wasn’t a stand-out League, but I am sure this year will be better. You already got a glimpse last weekend, and not just in the derby. Seeing a lot of goals and the fans having fun is great.

All the players had dinner with Calderón and Mijatovic last week. Are the dressing room and club back in sync after last year’s problems?
There were lots of institutional problems last year and tha League helped improve everything. The dinner allowed us all to look in eachother’s faces and tell one another that we’re here to help and to make sure we’re all rowing in the same direction. We’re now a family and we’ll take care of all our problems in house. There’s no problem with Pedja or the President.

Antonio Puerta’s death was so tragic…
It’s the worst news in a long time. We just played against him in the Super Cup and he was a great kid and exemplary athlete. You are numb when a 22-year old about to be a father dies leaves us like that. It was terrible. A huge blow for football. That’s why health is so important.

Lots of luck, captain. We want to see you thrilling the Bernabéu for many years to come.
Don’t worry, it won’t be my doing.