Andrés Iniesta Interview
SoccerBible were lucky enough to recently catch up with one of the biggest names in world football - AndrÉs Iniesta. The midfield maestro was more than happy to talk about everything from the World Cup to the current Barcelona squad. Thanks to his defining goal in the final of the World Cup against Holland, the Barca man is now a national hero who continues to be one of the key figures in the greatest club side on the planet!
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SB: Your 2010 will always be defined by winning the World Cup. And yet for a while it looked like you might not make it at all. You picked up an injury just before the tournament. Those must have been hard times? AI: Very hard. That last injury was the hardest moment of the year, maybe even of my career up until now. That was difficult to deal with: knowing that there was a World Cup and that time was ticking. |
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SB: You did make it … but the World Cup didn t start the way that anyone imagined.
GB: No. We didn t expect it; no one did. You have to start with a win and there had been so much expectation that it was a real shock to lose that opening game. Hard too. The good thing is that we were able to turn it round. It was difficult but of course it all ended in the best possible way. When you start with a defeat in the World Cup everything is harder: you can t make any mistakes, you have to win every game, there s a lot of responsibility.
SB: The pressure must have been intense.
AI: I wouldn t call it pressure but we had the responsibility of knowing that we couldn t even draw a game. Normally, you win the first game and that takes the heat off. You can then go into each game relatively relaxed. Our situation was the opposite. We knew we had to get everything right. It was a pretty unusual position to find ourselves in, normally you have margin for error and we didn t. But we responded well.
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SB: Was there a moment in the tournament when you thought: we can win this? With the penalty save against Paraguay perhaps? Or Puyol s header against Germany? Or did you never think so until it happened?
SB: Tell us about your goal. |
AI: I can t. It s impossible to express something like that … it s unique. You live that moment but you can t articulate what you feel or what you go through. If I told you know what it was like, well, it would be pointless - it would bare no resemblance at all to what that moment was actually like. There were so many thoughts and emotions. It was incredible. It was impossible to imagine that everything would happen like that. I never imagined that I would ever have experienced what I did.
SB: What were you thinking when the ball dropped to you? What went through your head?
| AI: When I got the pass I was thinkin I have to score. I know where I am going to put it, more or less. The panorama was clear. You know what s in front of you, your mind is clear: you re focused on where you are, where the goal is … and nothing else. I was still and I just waited for the ball to drop.
SB: You were a very popular goalscorer. The whole of Spain likes you, even the Madrid fans.
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AI: Yes, I have always said that I feel very loved and respected by everyone. That s a genuinely special feeling; for people to show you that affection is perfect. That s almost more important than any of the titles. It s important that people value what you do, what you are and what message you convey, your character as a person.
SB: In England we still talk in hushed tones about the 1966 World Cup - 44 years later. Do you realise what you have achieved? Do you realise that in forty-four years time your goal will still be the goal?
AI: I m sure people will still be talking about it, even as the years go by. It s history, it forms part of the legend. That s a strange feeling but a very nice one too. To know that years will go by and Spain will always, always be amongst the teams that have won it that people will remember our team and what we did.
SB: You won Euro 2008 too. Is this Spain team an epoch defining side? Is it the best generation ever?
AI: Well, it s a very good generation and that importance that winning those two titles has infused us with huge significance. Spain have always had very good players, but now
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success adds to that, giving this generation value. SB: If Spain have had good players in the past, why didn t they win anything. What makes this generation different?
SB: Can the same be said about Barcelona? Is this the best Barcelona team ever? AI: I don t know yet. As years go by people will see and be able to make a judgement. I hope it is not over yet; I hope we can add to our case. |
We have spent the last few years winning titles and we have to keep doing that. One thing is for sure: we are playing very, very well.
SB: And playing in a very specific, Barcelona way which sets you apart from other teams. Is this another type of football? Have you changed the game?
AI: Not for us. We re talking about a kind of football that we have always tried to play. The difference now is that because we are winning things, our style has gained in respect and prestige. Barcelona have always been committed to this approach. Now, it is being recognised elsewhere too. SB: How important is Pep Guardiola |
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in all this?
AI: He is the key figure. He came along at exactly the moment we needed him and he s the reason we have achieved what we have. The coach is fundamental for us. He came through La MasÍa, he knows us, understands us.
SB: You have a formidable foe in Real Madrid - the most expensive team ever...
AI: Our feelings are good. But they are the same as they have been from the very start. Our aim is to do the best we can and fight for everything. We are playing well, we have faith in what we re doing and we re hopeful.
SB: Is there more to come from you personally?
AI: Yes, much more. I feel very keen. I want to improve and keep on proving things. I want to keep winning.
You can check out our exclusive images and SoccerBible review of Iniesta's new Nike CTR360 Maestri II football boots.
