Well, I was going to just translate part of this interview between ABC and Iker, but I loved all his answers, so I ended up translating every single question and answer! There’s not much left for me to say about Iker, because you all know how I feel about him and his leadership.
(And of course, the Real Madrid web site only published the parts that made them – and their president – look good. See the excerpts in English here and in Spanish here.)
Note: there were some questions pertaining to the national team, and I’ll post the translations of those over on conlaroja.
Q: Being called up to the national team must be a relief, because you’re winning titles there, while in Madrid you’re going through rough times.
A: It’s cyclical. The good times of the national team coincide with the bad times of Real Madrid, which is curious. When things go well, success comes and that’s what we’re looking to do in the club.
Q: You’re in charge of two armbands now.
A: Which means twice the responsibility.
Q: Does it motivate you or give you headaches?
A: They’re two different responsibilities. I’ve been the captain of the national team for four years and I’ve had the opportunity to grow with the circumstances. I learned a lot from the former captains and I had enough time so that the transition went off without a hitch. My teammates also helped me a lot. In Real Madrid, I’m also one of the veterans of the team and I’ve gone step by step. I’ve respected the hierarchical order. It’s different here.
Q: You’ve had good teachers in Sanchís, Hierro and Raúl.
A: Yes, but I also learned a lot from Redondo, Roberto Carlos…
Q: What did you learn from those who wore the captain’s armband?
A: A lot of things. These grand players have been teachers and examples who have instilled in me a series of values needed to wear the armband.
Q: How would you like the locker room that you’re now in charge of to be like?
A: Like a family. That’s the most important thing. I know that spending all this time together is hard and complicated. I want everyone to get along off the field. That will help how things go on the field. Friendship and companionship are vital.
Q: Is it good for a team like Real Madrid to be administered by domestic players?
A: Yes. That’s a maxim that all clubs should follow. Players don’t stay long with clubs these days and it’s good for the domestic players to put down roots. It’s not normal for a player to say that his team is Real Madrid now and next year have it be Barcelona. It’s complicated to have emblematic players in a club. The club has to identify itself through players that come from the youth teams.
Q: Can the model of sharing, like Puyol and Xavi do on the national team, be applied to Madrid?
A: Yes. It’s easy on the national team, because we’ve all known each other for a long time. Things are different in Madrid, but it can be done. We already know here what it’s like to win. And we have to return to doing that.
Q: In the last few years, many Brazilians, Dutchmen, Argentines and now Portugueses have passed through. Is it good to have so many players from one country?
A: I’ve always believed that it’s not good to have a Tower of Babel in the locker room. Right now we have a lot of young people with a lot of hope for what’s to come… normal people. The Argentines – Gago, Higuaín, Garay and Di María – are noble people. I hope they stay that way. I’m 29 years old and I’m the third oldest in the locker room after Dudek and Carvalho.
Q: How many coaches have you had in the 11 years you’ve been on the first team?
A: I think 11, including Mourinho.
Q: So it’s been impossible to build up a solid project.
A: The best example is that we’ve had six presidents, and one who has been president twice. The club has not had a clear structure in any sense since I’ve been here. We’ve had different sporting directors, different coaches, different players… The best period that I’ve lived through in Real Madrid was when there was stability. From 1999 to 2003.
Q: Mourinho has great things to say about you.
A: It’s easy for the míster to connect with everyone. He’s a transparent and straightforward person. On the field, he demands a lot from you and he doesn’t care who you are. And off the field, he’s just another guy.
Q: What has surprised you about him?
A: The normality with which he faces things. When you don’t know him, you can think anything about him, but when you do know him, you get a good surprise.
Q: Tot the press, he’s a distant and arrogant person.
A: He’s nothing like that. He knows what he’s doing. He has everything planned out. He knows what do to in each moment. He’s a phenomenon.
Q: How far are Real Madrid and Barcelona, in terms of football?
A: We’re building a future and we have a dream. It’s not good to become obsessed with it. What good is it to say we’re going to win this competition or that one if later on we get eliminated early on like what has happened in the Champions League in recent years. We’re going to take it day by day. Game by game. Each matchday is important. We’re not going to think about January, the final of the Copa del Rey or the final in Wembley. We’ve played two matches and we’ve already heard all sorts of comments. We ask for tranquility and patience.
Q: Do you think the Liga will be a two-horse race like last year?
A: No. The teams have reinforced themselves, and some are standing up to Barcelona like Hércules in the Camp Nou. Anything can happen. I believe Atlético de Madrid is a title contender.
Q: Thoughts on the Champions League?
A: The group is complicated, but that motivates the players. Playing against lesser rivals usually presents more danger. Milan, Ajax and Auxerre are teams that have been focused on the field. It’s good for us to start this competition at home against Ajax. It’s vital to win.
Q: Milan has gotten stronger with Robinho and Ibrahimovic. And they already had Pato and Ronaldinho. Will it be a spectacle?
A: I don’t know, we’ll see. It doesn’t scare me. I want to play these types of games.
Q: Is the Copa del Rey a way to escape from all that?
A: It’s a priority. Like everything else. We have to go game by game.
Q: In previous years, not so much emphasis was placed on the Copa del Rey.
A: It’s true. I feel envy watching so many finals without being part of them. We lost the one of the Centennial and that in Montjuic and from that time on I’ve been hurting on the inside. Maybe all of the finals will now come all at once. I hope so!