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in the Premier League, as well. We come
from Spain, Portugal, Argentina and
many other countries. So maybe that’s
why.
What do you know about the new Man-
chester Unitedmanager, Louis van Gaal?
I never met him, but from everyone that
speaks to me about him, everything is
good. I think he’s a very experienced
manager. He likes to play in an offensive
way, so hopefully he can bring success
and trophies to the club and to the play-
ers.
Areyouconfident thatManchesterUnited
will domuch better next year?
Yes, I hope so and I think so. It’s been
a difficult year for us, for the club, but I
think this season we will improve and we
will try to win again, because Manchester
United is about winning and fighting for
the titles.
Canyoutell usaboutyour roleasaLaureus
Ambassador?
Well, it’s been a few years for me, collabo-
rating with Laureus, and it’s a pleasure
for me as the work that they do for the
children and for the people that need
help around the world makes me feel
proud of being in a relationship with
them. So everything that I can do, I will
do it for them.
You joined another Laureus Ambassador,
Luis Figo, for a visit to children in Madrid.
Can you tell us about your trip?
Well, Luis and me, it was the first time
that we met each other and we went to
meet children who have problems in their
relationship with other people. It was
a nice day for him and for me to know
there are people who give their lives to
help children like this, who can’t act and
can’t communicate with other people
normally. So Laureus is helping a lot of
children around the world, not just in
Spain. So that’s why we feel very proud
to be involved.
Does anything stand out in your memory
that touched you or inspired you?
I think children are the future of the
world, so anything that we can do with
the children and with the next generation
is important to try to help them. I feel
very, very proud and very happy with
myself and with Laureus doing this.
Nowthat you’vebeenplayingmore regu-
larly for Manchester United, will that help
your performance in the Spanish team?
The last three or four months were great.
I played a lot and scored some goals. So
I’m looking forward to being there and
to try my best for the team.
What is thestrengthof theSpanishteam?
I think we are like a family. We have
known each other for a long time and
have played together for the last six,
eight years. So we feel really comfortable
among us, and I think this is the key.
If Spain wins in Brazil, they would have
won two World Cups and two European
Championships in succession. Is that
enough to say that they are the greatest
national team?
It would be something that nobody has
done before. So if we can win this World
Cup, on top of South Africa and two Euro
Cups in a row, we will be talking about
the most successful national team.
WhodoyouseeasSpain’smainchalleng-
ers for theWorld Cup?
I think there are a lot of good teams. Prob-
ably Brazil, which is the favourite, and
obviously Argentina, Holland, Germany,
France, Italy and England. I think they can
try to win. So a lot of teams.
Doyou thinkplayingat home isanadvan-
tage for Brazil or will it put extra pressure
on the team?
They will have extra pressure for sure
because they will feel the necessity of
winning. But I think they will have help;
the crowd and all the people that go to
the stadium, they will support them. So
it will be better for them.
Brazil’s coach Luiz Felilpe Scolari is very
experienced and knows what it takes to
win theWorld Cup. Is he a big asset?
For sure. He has experience. He has won
the World Cup with Brazil. He has man-
aged a lot of teams and a lot of national
teams. So I think he is the man who can
try to win again with Brazil and with
this squad.
At Chelsea you played with four players
whoare in theBraziliansquad, Oscar, Luiz,
Ramiers and Willian. What is your view
on them?
All Brazilian players are very talented
and they have the quality. So I think this
country has probably the best players in
the history of football, or one of them. So
they will be a very, very big rival for the
rest of the teams.
Where do you stand on the Cristiano
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi debate? Who
do you think is the No. 1?
It’s difficult to say, because every season,
they improve each other and they chal-
lenge each other to be better. So last
season, Cristiano Ronaldo was the best.
In the last years, probably Messi was the
best. So they are competing very, very
close.
Who do you think will be the other out-
standingplayers in theWorldCup thatwill
exceed expectations?
Hopefully some Spanish players. I would
like to see, for example, Andrés Iniesta
as one of the best in the World Cup. But
there are some young players, who can
surprise the world as well.
You have played in the English League
for several years now. Do you agree with
England coachRoyHodgson’s decision to
select young players?
I think they have great young players and
they have a talented team. For England
to try to compete and to try to win the
trophy, they have very good players.
For example, Wayne Rooney, who is my
team-mate now (at Manchester United).
He is a world‑class player.
Have young players like Adam Lallana,
Raheem Stirling, Ross Barkley and Luke
Shaw impressed you when you played
against them in the English League?
Yes, all of them. They are like, 20, 21, 22
at the most. Maybe they don’t have the
experience, but they have the talent. So
I think what they need is a manager to
give them confidence and I think Roy
Hodgson does that.
Howwell do you think Englandwould do?
I think they can try to reach semi-final,
final, try to win the title, because they
have a very good 23 players lineup. I think
they have a good manager, so why not.
TheEnglishPremier League is veryexcit-
ing, but why does that not carry through
to the national team?
There are a lot of foreign players playing