Valdes: "I like the quietness of the countryside"

Barcelona player Víctor Valdés gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.





Are you as cold as it seems?
With people I trust I joke around more. My way of being on the pitch seems cold but a game of football just isn't a funny thing. The laughing comes with the results.

You don't laugh during a game?
I'm not very cheerful because of my position. Being a goalkeeper doesn't allow me to smile. In normal life it's different.

You enjoy watching this team play?
I don't have time for that. Only when we score. You have to be aware of a lot of things, you cannot relax.

You watch your own games at home afterwards?
I did that more in the past.

You're especially hoping for a trophy?
All three are the same. Even the cup although I'm not playing. It's important that people see that Barça wins no matter who is playing.

The opponents are scared of you?
The opponents wait more for us at the back so they can play the counter-attack. They're alert, cautious.

Which Pep did you discover?
I knew him but now I know how he works. Over the past months I have learnt a lot about football, things I didn't think of before. I like it.

For example...
Because of my position, I didn't know a lot about the tactics. I was concentrating on my things. Now I know more. Guardiola works on the little details that make us big.

You'll end up as a coach?
Only as a goalkeeping coach. To see a young goalkeeper train makes me feel proud. It's difficult. I would like to be at his side if he needs me. I know how difficult it is to be a goalkeeper because you suffer a lot.

Which goalkeepers do you like?
Gorka (Athletic Bilbao) for his risky style. There are others that are also playing very good, like the ones of Valladolid (Asenbjo) and Villarreal (Diego López). Or Asier Riesgo (Recreativo).

What is the price one has to pay to be a Barça player?
The sacrifice since childhood. If you get to be a professional, you're rewarded with a privileged life.

You're close with Iniesta.
I'm not someone who has a lot of friends but Andrés is always by my side and he's one of my best friends. He seems calmer but, despite the age difference, I don't think our characters really are that different.

What kind of person are you?
I'm rather relaxed. I don't like big crowds, but I'm neither avoiding things because of the fact that I'm more famous than others. Being popular doesn't limit my life so if I have to do something or go to a public place, I don't leave that because people will recognize me otherwise.

How do you relax?
I like to spend hours close to the sea and I also like the quietness of the countryside. That's were I can truly disconnect. Don't think I'm a farmer or anything, not at all. I just like the silence, the peace, the calmness. I also adore to go out fishing or kitesurfing. I'm lucky to live close by the sea so I don't need to travel far.


This was the third and last part of this interview. You can read the previous parts here:
Valdes: "I'm not only looking at the money"
Valdes: "Winning games doesn't mean anything"

Valdes: "Winning games doesn't mean anything"

Barcelona player Víctor Valdés gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.





What has changed and made the team look totally different in just a few months time?
There has been a lot of talk about the changes during the summer but I think that there has been a lack of respect towards certain people who aren't there anymore but who gave a lot to Barça.

You're talking ablout Frank Rijkaard?
For example. He did important things and now he has to hear all this. Things are being said about his period at the club that are totally incorrect and false. I'm one of those who think that we should respect Frank and his work more.

The criticism hurts you?
Rijkaard was very important for me. He was the only one who believed in me in difficult moments and who stood up for me. It offends me when they say that he didn't work enough...

Difficult moments? But Rijkaard wasn't the one who gave you a spot as starter.
Without him, I wouldn't be where I am now. Without his confidence at certain moments, something only I know about and that no one will ever know, I wouldn't be where I am. He put his trust in me and he held on to me at important moments.

You're talking about football problems?
No. I only know what it's about.

And what do you think when Guardiola says that he puts on "Valdés and ten others"?
It was something that made me feel proud, but I don't think it's really like that. I can only thank him for those words but all are equally important at Barça.

Everything is easier with a phenomenon like Messi?
It's a star. I'm not surprised about what he's doing because I knew what he's capable of and everything turns out well for him. He's showing who he is. I hope he'll keep on being as important for the club during many more years.

You feel accomplished?
I will when we win the final in Rome, the Liga and the Copa. Winning games doesn't mean anything to me. I only care about winning trophies.

It motivates you that you could repay Madrid for the tribute?
Those things don't happen often but you have to take it like a sportsman. I'm a winner although I can accept a defeat. I accepted that we had to pay tribute and I didn't have problems with it. It was a difficult moment as a culé but looking further beyond this primary reaction, I'm a correct sportman.

How would you describe yourself?
I'm a stable and disciplined person although I sometimes react a little too impulsively.

You turned 27 recently, you 're more matured now?
I hope not. I only wish that I have a lot of years left in my football career.

But matured doesn't mean retired.
I passed through a first learning stage. I'm more matured every year. This year I'll do things that aren't good, other things will get better but one always learns new things.

You wanted to be one of the captains. It was time?
Not at all. It's about length of service. Ronnie left and Andrés and I moved one place up. I'm very proud and I hope to do well.


This was the second part part of this interview. You will be able to read the third and last part in the coming days with Valdés talking -among other things- about his friendship with Iniesta and about his hobbies.

Read the first part here:
Valdes: "I'm not only looking at the money"

Read more:
Barcelona working on Valdes renewal
Puyol: "At the end, the best team always wins"
Barcelona rejects Tottenham offer for Valdes

Valdes: "I'm not only looking at the money"

Barcelona player Víctor Valdés gave an interview to Catalan sports paper Sport.





Joan Laporta announced that the club wants to renew your contract. What is your wish?
My wish has always been to stay as long as I possible can with Barça. I grew up here and like every other youth player I want to retire here. But of course, that doesn't only depend on me...

You mean that the board should make a move?
The only thing I can do is to keep working like I have been doing until this moment, day by day, putting all my energy and keeping the motivation. I cannot do more than that.

What do you think when you read the club is looking for another goalkeeper?
It's normal that a club like this one is always looking to sign the best players in the world.

There have been rumours that you're asking a lot of money, as much as Casillas. Are these rumours true?
No. I'm not the one who's going to compare myself with other players. And I'm not one of those who are only looking at the money either. I just want to be at this club as many years as possible. The financial issue isn't that important, I mean that. I can assure you that I, nor anyone from my entourage, has talked about these matters.

Staying must be important for you...
Every time that I put on the shirt, that's special, an honour. And it's not just now. I have this feeling with the first team and I had it when I started playing here. I also want to achieve things for this club. My goal is to help Barcelona to win trophies. Of everyting I have done untill now, I only remember the moments in which we have won trophies.

The routine isn't tiring?
Not at all. I feel really privileged to live this life.

You could leave because of being curious about discovering other cultures. Playing in Italy, England... or Jamaica. Or you feel good here?
I have my life in place here. I'm not the kind of person who has a lot of people around him. If I want to learn more about other cultures, I go and travel there and that's it. If I want to play football, I stay in Barcelona.

You enjoy life more than ever in seasons like this one?
In this club I've seen a lot so we cannot be over-confident. We started well but we have to keep this going until the end so the euphoria and the results can lead to trophies.

Don't tell me we're not going to win the three trophies...
From the outside, people talk like that. But the players know how difficult it is to win every game and we're very careful. Of course we want to win every trophy. If we play three competitions, we want to win all three. If we play five of them, we want to win all five. We're on our way to win something because we're dealing very good with the situation. But seasons are evaluated at the end.

It seems like you want to lower the enthusiasm but I'm afraid that's not possible. What this team is doing is impressive.
It's normal that after two years without winning anything, people want to see good football and win games. But winning is all that counts. It's normal there's some euphoria but those who are here for a while know that you should stay very calm.


This was the first part of this interview. You will be able to read the following parts in the coming days with Valdés talking -among other things- about his friendship with Iniesta and about his hobbies.

Read more:
Barcelona working on Valdes renewal
Hleb: "I know that scoring is my problem"
Valdes is next on renewal list