推 selves:小馬>///< 05/23 17:53
http://www.fifa.com/en/news/interview/0,4323,138032-N,00.html?articleid=138032
Javier Mascherano: I was made for Liverpool
(FIFA.com) 22 May 2007
Few players can have experienced a campaign of such contrasting
fortunes as Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano. On the eve
of September 2006, he and international team-mate Carlos Tevez
became the talk of English football when they swapped Sao Paulo
for the East End of London, moving from Brazilian club Corinthians
to West Ham United.
If their move to the Hammers had come as a surprise, more
surprising still was the fact that Mascherano, for several
years heralded as one of the best defensive midfield prospects
of his generation, struggled to break into the team and
appeared in danger of fading into obscurity. That was until
long-time admirer Rafa Benitez took him to Liverpool during
the January transfer window.
Since then, Mascherano has looked a player reborn, and has
been a central figure in the Reds' impressive advance towards
Athens and another UEFA Champions League final. As he looks
forward to Wednesday night, the 22-year-old tells FIFA.com
how he has discovered true happiness on Merseyside.
FIFA.com: Javier, how are you feeling about your first UEFA
Champions League final?
Javier Macherano: It will be very tough, of course. And for
me personally, it will be a new kind of experience, given
that everything will be decided in one game. In South America
the final of the Copa Libertadores is played over two legs,
home and away, but here you get just 90 minutes to decide
your destiny. It will be a different challenge.
How has the build-up to the big day been for you?
This week I've been getting phone calls from people everywhere,
at River Plate, Corinthians and people from the Argentina
national team. To tell the truth, I have been feeling more
nervous than usual. When I think about the match, I can't
quite believe what is happening to me. It's incredible. I
am so thankful for what my life has given me personally and
in my career.
Did you watch the AC Milan-Liverpool final in 2005? If so,
can you remember what kind of impression it made on you?
I did. It was a great match, but then you would expect that
from the Champions League final. As we say back home, it was
played with the hand on the heart, by two teams with two
different styles, both showing plenty of respect for the
other's game.
What are your thoughts about the current Milan team?
Tough, really tough. They have so much experience that for
them, games like this one are like domestic league games.
They have so many players of great quality, who have done
so much in the game, so they are not going to be nervous
about playing in a final.
Kaka has been in exceptional form Milan this season,
especially in the Champions League. Do you feel he is
their main dangerman? And how do you feel about being
given the task of having to mark him?
I have seen him play thousands of times and he always does
something different. You can analyse videos of him as much
as you want, but he can still take you by surprise at any
moment. I don't know if I will be man-marking him on my own,
or whether there will be more than one of us asked to watch
him - at the moment, I still have to wait and find out if I
will be picked to start the game.
You seem to have settled very quickly at Liverpool and are
playing in your favourite holding role in the middle. That
must make you happy?
It does, yes, but there is also no problem if they want me
to play further out wide. I have played there before, and
am happy to do so for Liverpool, if they want me to. Everyone
at the club has made me feel so welcome. I feel like I was
made for Liverpool and they were made for me.
You have formed a strong bond with Steven Gerrard in the
midfield, and the Liverpool captain has been very complimentary
about your impact on the team. How do you feel your
partnership is shaping up?
Yes. He made me feel welcome from day one, and put me
completely at my ease. Some of the things he said about
me are a bit too much, maybe. As for my thoughts about
him, I don't think it's my place to give an opinion.
He's a great player and I respect him an awful lot. But
I don't feel it's my place to be making a judgement about
him. That wouldn't be right.
Before you went to England, there was a lot of talk that
you might actually move to Italy. And you hold an Italian
passport. Is that still something that you would like to
do one day?
There was some talk about going to Italy, but things never
reached a serious stage. At least I was never told about
an official offer. In the end it was West Ham who showed
the most interest, so that's where I went. And then of
course came the chance to move to Liverpool. To be honest,
I must say I was surprised that they were so keen on me.
For now, I have no more thoughts about Italy. I am happy
here in England.
How do you think the current Liverpool team compares with
the team that won the trophy in 2005? Are you stronger?
It wouldn't be fair to say that. Journalists are paid to
give opinions on that kind of thing, not players. All I
can say is that we have a great team at Liverpool now -
one that is respected not just in England but throughout
the world. What I can say is that we know all about Milan,
and they know all about us. Two very strong sides. There
can be no messing around. Both sides will need complete
focus and concentration for the whole game.
Presumably, you will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the
penalty shootout that decided that final in 2005?
Yes, of course. We definitely want to win the game before
it goes to penalties this time!
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Liverpool FC # 29
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