Hleb: "I never swap shirts with other players"

Barcelona player Alexander Hleb gave an interview to FIFA's official website.





You've played for Stuttgart, Arsenal and Barcelona, all of them leading European clubs. Where have you enjoyed it the most?
I've basically never thought about anything like that. But considering your question now, I've been well settled at all three and have plenty of good things to say about them all. Obviously, I got to play more often for Stuttgart and Arsenal, and I really, really enjoyed myself at both clubs. Barcelona is a fantastic city though. It’s where I want to play and take the next step.

Certain sections of the media think you may be poised for a return to Germany. Could Bayern Munich be an option?
It's always nice when a big club expresses an interest. But I play for Barcelona, and I'm happy where I am. I'd be genuinely delighted to earn a regular place in this team. I came here to play, and I'll do my level best to get into the starting line-up.

In 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying, Belarus are fourth in their group behind England, Croatia and Ukraine. Can Belarus realistically claim a place in South Africa?
I'd say it's 50-50. It's up to us now. We have to fight for every single point, and our only option is to move forwards. We also need some luck, because I can't imagine football without luck.

What does representing your country mean to you?
Representing your country, pulling on the national shirt, running out onto the field, and hearing your national anthem is a great honour for every player, from every country, on every continent of this planet. It's what little lads who are just starting out dream of all the time. I'm simply overjoyed to be part of the Belarus national set-up.

You've often played alongside your younger brother Vyacheslav for the national team. How do you feel about that?
We get on well both on and off the field. We have a good relationship and we're very close friends. We work together well on the field of play too, and that's a positive influence on our play. I think he fully deserves his place in the national team. I'm hoping to play alongside my brother for a long time yet.

You were Belarus Player of the Year in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Are you your country's best footballer of all time?
We've produced any number of great players who'd deserve that title. I can't offer an opinion about myself. That's something for the experts. It's obviously a great honour for me, and I hope I continue to fulfil the expectations of everyone who puts their faith in me.

Do you have an idol? Who would you swap shirts with?
When I was younger, I was in awe of Zinedine Zidane and Diego Maradona. I basically never swap shirts with other players.

In Germany, they used to call you The Sorcerer's Apprentice. What do you make of that?
I’ve heard that, but I’ve never really understood what it was supposed to mean. Reporters always give nicknames to players. It’s part of the game, and part of their job.

Who's the best midfielder in the world?
Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta.

One last question: What are your goals for 2009?
To win as many trophies as possible with Barcelona, and qualify for the World Cup in 2010.

read the full interview here


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Hleb: "I know that scoring is my problem"

Barcelona player Alexander Hleb gave an nterview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.





When did you know that Barcelona wanted you?
At the start of the holidays, in May. I talked with Arsène Wenger to tell him that I wanted to leave and that Barcelona was interested but he was first and said that he would fight so I would stay. I could understand him. Flamini was on his way out, there were rumours about Adebayor leaving. It wasn't easy for him.

When you arrived in Barcelona, you said that it was a dream come true.
When you're a little boy and you play on the street, you dream about playing for a big club. When Stuttgart signed me, that was already a dream come true. Back then, I didn't think I would join Barcelona one day, but here I am. Step by step, I got there. It proves that sometimes dreams come true.

That dream was about Barcelona or only about a European top club?
It was Barcelona. Because of the stadium, the team. Since the time of Stoichkov and Romario. It was fantastic. They were real stars and children dream about being a star. Little by little, working hard, with the support of my family, I achieved it.

And the other boys you played with?
Although there were a lot who were talented, none of them made it. Life has different roads for all of us, one gets injured, another starts drinking... I concentrated on football, on training and watching games on television. There weren't many games broadcasted at that time, only on Sunday afternoon. When the Soviet Union disappeared, you could see a lot more games by satellite: games from Spain, Italy and other leagues.

You scored 13 goals in 137 games with Stuttgart and 8 goals in 119 games with Arsenal.
That's not a lot, no (laughs).

How come?
I know that scoring is my problem. I know I need to shoot more, be more selfish in the box. It's a problem. I'm often going to shoot but when I hear "Alex", I change the plan and I give a pass. I don't have the mindset of a goalscorer like Eto'o.

Are you too generous or don't you believe enough in yourself?
I don't know. When I give a good pass and a goal comes out of it, I'm very satisfied. People are telling me that I should change that mentality and score more goals and I'm aware of that. I know it.

What has been your best game?
Several ones. I can't think of one. If we would have won, the Champions League final in Paris against Barcelona would have been the best. I will have to wait for another chance.

How was your youth in Minsk?
I had problems at school. Like all children I guess, since nobody likes to study. We all wanted to play. We didn't have a shortage of anything if that's what you wanted to know. But of course, in the old Soviet Union there wasn't any luxury, we didn't have as much as children have now.

I asked it because your father had to go and work abroad.
Yes, he had to work in Chernobyl because he was ordered to. He had to go there immediately after the nuclear accident. You couldn't refuse. It was an order. He received a letter and he had to leave. He had some physical problems, but now his health is more or less ok. He needed to follow a treatment in a hospital, but in a certain way he was lucky. Some of his friends and people he knew died there.


This was the second and last part of this interview. Read the first part here:
Hleb: "I'm speaking Russian with Toure"

Hleb: "I'm speaking Russian with Toure"

Barcelona player Alexander Hleb gave an nterview to Catalan newspaper El Periódico.





How do you feel six months after your arrival?
Little by little I'm feeling better. I had to deal with a lot of changes. Everything was new: the team, the language, the atmosphere. It hasn't been easy but I got a lot of help. I try to learn and to find my place in the group.

Footballwise?
No, I'm not refering to adapting to the level of the game, but to the fact of understanding the style, knowing how everything works around here. It's very different compared to what I have known at Arsenal and I need some time. That's normal. And above that, I didn't play for a month because of an injury.

Are you coming close to reaching your best level?
Not yet. I need to feel more confident, have good feelings on the pitch and certainty about what I have to do. I need more games and more training sessions.

That's the biggest difficulty?
No. The language is. I have a hard time learning it. As for the rest, I like everything about Barcelona: the city, the food is incredible, the climate... People here enjoy life more. I'm having a normal life here, relaxed. I often go to the city. I'm very happy. Playing alongside people like Xavi, Messi, Iniesta, Henry, Puyol, Márquez is something very big. I want to play more, but I'm satisfied with my work. I know it's not easy for the coach. He has to choose between 22 great players.

With whom do you connect best?
I get along with everyone, but a little better with those who speak English, like Henry, Gudjohnsen, Márquez, Abidal... With Touré, I'm speaking Russian. He really talks it very well. It surprised me a lot to hear that an Ivorian knew Russian.

You understand that the coach is rotating so that everyone can play?
Yes, you accept it. It's normal that everyone wants to play. We all need minutes and rhythm to reach our best level.

Guardiola says you can play at the five attacking positions. What's your favourite one?
When I was younger, I used to splay as second striker, behind the centre forward. When I played for Arsenal, I learnt to play on the right and the left wing. If I could choose, I prefer to play as attacking midfielder, but if the coach wants me to play on the wing, that's no problem. It's the same which wing. The problem there is that you're sometimes five minutes without touching the ball.

It's striking how you are able to use both legs on the pitch.
When playing, I have the same confidence in both of them. I'm right-footed but when I was six years old, my father made me practice with my left foot.


This was the first part of this interview. You'll be able to read the second part here in the coming days with Hleb talking -among other things- about his youth in the USSR and his lack of scoring.

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Hleb: "The atmosphere at the stadium was great"

Barcelona player Alexander Hleb gave an interview to Russian sports paper Sport-Express.





You weren't disappointed because you didn't start the game against Real Madrid?
I understood that I wouldn’t play in the starting eleven, when I was part of the starting line-up in the Champions League clash against Shakhtar. Nobody said anything that time, but I understood everything without words. Nevertheless, I came up to the pitch at the end of the match, and I was happy I helped my team fire in the second goal.

What did you think about te way Real Madrid approached the game?
This game was not the most difficult and at the same time it was not the easiest one. Real played on counterattacks and made several very dangerous attacks. We need to thank our goalkeeper Valdes, who made big contribution to our victory.

What about Barcelona's performance?
Our team demonstrated wonderful football. We controlled the game and created many scoring opportunities, so Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas had to work hard too. However, the most important thing is that we won and extended our lead over Madrid.

There were some stories about the cold reaction of the fans earlier this season. How was that on Saturday?
The atmosphere at the stadium was great! People were singing and supporting us as hard as they could. In general when there more than ten thousand people at the stands, it always impresses your mind.

What are the main qualities of Barcelona this season?
Barcelona is strong because of its team play and the players’ mutual understanding on the pitch. And of course I can’t but mention that there are so many star players in the club, who always can turn the match around when it’s necessary.

You think the team will be able to continue the way they're playing now?
We have enough good players at all positions. The team is at peak form, and I want to hope that our winning run will be extended.


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