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LaLiga World Interview: Sergio Ramos

football27 February 2020 08:49
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Question: Sergio, first of all, thank you for attending La Liga prior to El Clásico. I would like to know how you feel at this point of your career.

Answer: Thank you very much, it’s a pleasure. The truth is I am going through a good personal moment, at a personal level, and also professional. And I think that is a very good sign. That’s what it’s all about. Keep your shape and show your best level. And I can say I feel well to give the best for my team.

Q: You’ve been 15 seasons at Real Madrid. What is the secret of your success? How does one stay so many years at that level?

A: The secret is the work, dedication and not lose ambition. I think that’s fundamental. Maintaining shape is difficult, but if one has a fresh start at the beginning of each season to keep fighting and winning trophies and have that excitement and ambition to win new things, that’s key. In my case, I think this is what I always think about, taking care of myself, try to give my best… And all years, one is learning new things. So there is always a margin to improve and that’s what you have to aim for, be better each year and make use of what you learn.

Q: You’ve changed a lot since you arrived. Now you are the captain and the reference of Real Madrid. How does that feel?

A: For me, it’s a privilege to represent and be the captain of this team. For me, it’s a great pride, after so many years, as you well say, it’s a learning process with so many games and years and so many good and bad experiences. For me, it’s a true pride to wear Real Madrid’s bracelet and to know that I am an example for so many kids, for your own teammates. It’s also a responsibility, so I try to do my best, for my teammates and for the Madridismo to feel proud, too.

Q: Let’s talk about this season. What’s the analysis of Real Madrid’s captain of this season in La Liga?

A: I believe the team has found a good maturity grade. At the beginning, it’s all difficult, until you get the right physical and mental state. We are going to fight with great excitement to get La Liga title. And we are on the right way. We have to keep working this same way and, from that point on, we will see the results. We have to give our best at our best level and you do that by working. Many good things have been done and we’ve kept going until we have found a good balance, in attack and defence. And that’s what we have to try and maintain. In the end, small details are the ones that will make the difference. La Liga is harder each year and everything is closer every time. You can’t say you are going to win in any stadium because it’s not true. Any team can hurt you. The level is higher each day. There is more competition and it’s harder to beat the rivals. And that is the nice thing of the league title, because it makes it much more exciting. And for us it will be a bigger satisfaction if we are able to achieve it.

Q: Let’s talk about Zidane. Tell me about his playing philosophy. What’s he like?

A: Zidane is a great coach, not only for his statistics and the titles we have won with him. In the end, he is a former player that has been many years here and he knows how a dressing room works. He is a privileged man because he has lived it as a player and now, as a coach. And from my point of view, not everyone could do it with the naturality Zizou does it. He gets along with the whole squad, in spite of playing more or less. He has everyone motivated. And that is one of the great virtues of Zizou. He knows what performance he can get from uys. For me, he is the right coach for Real Madrid and let’s hope he can be here many years, because we are all behind him. We are delighted that he is the captain of this ship and let’s hope we can live another great era of successes.

Q: You are always making history here at Madrid. You are the player with more Clásicos played, 43. It’s the most important game and competition in the world. What do you feel when you are the player that has played more Clásicos in history?

A: Well, it’s a privilege. It’s also a reward to the work and sacrifice of so many years. It’s true that one doesn’t play football for individual trophies, but it’s true that it’s gratifying to complete personal challenges and overcome the statistics of other players that looked like unreachable and then you can overcome them. As I said, this just gives me the will to continue working and achieving things. In this sense, being the player with most Clásicos played is a great joy. And I hope I can continue playing many more Clásicos, which will be a good sign because it means I will be here many years more. And then, if you can win them, even better. In the end, Clásicos are not normal games. They are very complicated games and I would like to remember the ones of my last years with a victory.

Q: 15 years have gone by. I think that the way of living these games will have changed since the first you played, I guess you were nervous, and now, with a much greater certainty.

A: I don’t know. Sincerely, I don’t when you are younger you may be braver, and when those moments arrive, you don’t think so much about them. As the years go by, one gets more experience, but you may have a bit more time to think about the Clásicos. For me, the excitement has not changed, since I played my first Clásico up to today. I don’t play that game as if it was the last. I play it as if it was the first, with the ambition and will to aim for the victory. We know it’s not a normal game. It’s 3 points like any other game, but for us, beating Barcelona is always a joy that can make the group react. They and us know that. We have to analyse it to take it as a victory.

Q: If you had to remember some Clásico in La Liga you have lived, which one would it be?

A: In La Liga, maybe the year of the double, of these last years with Zizou. We were losing 1-0 at the Camp Nou and I scored a header from a foul thrown by Modric and that point was key to win La Liga. We became champions some matchdays later in Málaga’s stadium. It was an important goal, and those have a different meaning. Maybe not the most important one, but certainly one of the ones with most importance.”

Q: You were saying that, in general terms, how important El Clásico is. But tell me what you feel in the Clásico right before taking to the pitch, the days prior to it. How does Sergio Ramos live that?

A: From Monday of that week, normally, when you don’t have a Champions League of cup game in between, it’s true that you live it differently. The press, right from that week, start putting pressure. It’s true it creates a great media attention. And that’s what makes this game great, our league, the players… It’s nice to perceive it. I try to be out of it, being focused and keep working in the same way and come out with the same motivation. But then, it’s true that you have it inside and it’s hard to express but I hope I can keep doing it during many years.

Q: What do you think this next Clásico will be like?

A: It will be very disputed, because of the moment of the season we are in. The point difference is minimum, practically. It can be determining or not. It depends on what happens with the result, but I think La Liga has a lot left and there are many points at stake. Anything can happen. But for us it would be important to get this victory at home, in front of our fans, because that is also a motivation and satisfaction point. With them, we are stronger and they have to feel that, the opponent, and us on the pitch. Let’s hope we can have an impact and win at home. I think it would be important.

Q: I want to ask you about the duel between two number 1 players, like Sergio Ramos and Leo Messi. How do you live this duel?

A: In the end, I have a great respect for him. He is one of the best players in football’s history. Let’s hope he doesn’t have his best day on Sunday. That will mean we have done things right. And if the result is good for Real Madrid, much better. I wish the best to him as a mate, but not in what affects to Real Madrid. So that is complicated, of course. But I have great respect for him, because he is one of the best.

Q: Which do you think are the keys to hurt this Barça?

A: We have had many games against them in which we know what we are aiming to do, how to create danger. Barça keep a lot of possession, and when they feel most uncomfortable is when you try to take that from them. Madrid, people and the teams know that. It’s a bit risky, but facing them with high pressure makes it difficult for them and previously they didn’t have that because of the respect there was towards them, because they would manage it well and they would start with the ball well. But nowadays, maybe one of the keys is to press up high and try and take the ball from them, which is when they are most uncomfortable. But then, there is the risk of the determining players up front that can be decisive and create danger in a Clásico. Let’s hope it’s not like that and that we can keep the focus from the beginning until the end and everything works out well, like we prepare this games like.

Q: I know there is a lot left, but do you think this Clásico can be decisive for La Liga, with both teams so close?

A: I have my doubts… I think this is a moment of the season in which there are many points at stake, still. We’ve seen it in the first round. We have been missing out on points, not only away, but also with some opponents at home. Not only us, but them, too. And that proves that this is nicer and more competitive. In the end, that degree of competition is the nice thing of winning. So, I don’t think the most determining thing are the 3 points, but morally it would be very positive for us.

Q: Lastly, I want to ask you about the goals of the team this season.

A: The goals, in the end, are winning and winning again and not getting tired of winning. I think that is the philosophy of our club. We have to give value to the title we have already achieved, the supercup. And we would like to finish the season winning, the Champions and La Liga. We know it’s complicated but we are working rightly and in the right form. For us, it will not be. In football, anything can happen, but let’s hope it’s not for lacking a sprint or effort. That hard work people demand from you. We are going to do everything that’s possible. And then, if luck is on our side, we can win the titles, because those are what define football. And results, they have to finish in titles.

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