Guillem chats to Xabi Alonso following Spain's historic tournament win at Euro 2008. The Liverpool midfielder admits that it takes a little bit of luck to become the best in Europe, but that ultimately: "We deserved to win all of our games and that is why we are champions!"
Guillem Balague: Spain's unbeaten record is impressive. The way that you’ve played at this tournament, I’m wondering, how do teams beat you when they can’t even get the ball off you?
Xabi Alonso: Yes we have certainly been hard to beat throughout the tournament, and in qualifying as well. To start with, the defence has been magnificent: the four guys at the back have done a brilliant job and then, with Marcos (Senna) protecting them, we’ve conceded very few goals. Then you look at our attacking players and our midfielders; it seems as if we have found a perfect balance, where everybody knows their job and everyone works hard for everyone else. Do you know what it is about this team? Everyone, right from the start, including the players who are on the bench, everyone is pulling in the same direction.
Guillem: In order to win a tournament like this, a lot of those things need to come together at the same time…
Xabi Alonso: Absolutely. There are a lot of variables that need to combine in order that you finish a tournament as Champions. This victory shows the world the real level of Spanish football, but this is not something that has happened overnight. We have been at this level for a long time, and there have been teams in the past that could also have gone on to win major tournaments like this one. The difference is that in the past, things just haven’t gone right for us: decisions haven’t gone our way, external factors influenced what happened on the pitch, players were not at their best at key moments and so on and so forth.
This time, all of those variables combined to make us European Champions. Maybe if just one of them had been different, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Guillem: Of course, it takes a bit of luck, but wouldn’t you say that you have been better than other teams: that you are Champions thanks to a margin of superiority…
Xabi Alonso: I don’t know about superior, but, we are most certainly deserved Champions. Our victory is warranted because in all of the games that we have played in at Euro 2008, we have deserved to win. That’s why we are Champions.
Guillem: Do you think that when others see how Spain have won this tournament, that it could signal a shift away from the trend that sees teams emulate Mourinho’s reliance upon big, powerful six foot tall midfielders and full backs?
Xabi Alonso: No, I don’t think so. I still think we’ll see a lot of different styles to our own. It’s just that, with the players that we have, it’s what works for us and makes the most of our qualities. Not many teams will be able to play that way.
Guillem: What has the experience of playing at this tournament taught you?
Xabi Alonso: Right now, we’re all just living the moment. It’s incredible and we’re all walking around in a dream. It’s fantastic; you really should have seen the guys in the dressing room afterwards. I haven’t had a chance to stop and take it all in yet. When I do, that will be the moment to sit and reflect upon what has happened and what we can learn from it. At this moment in time, the only thing that matters is that we are the Champions!
Guillem: Do you have any idea of how big the celebrations are all over Spain?
Xabi Alonso: No, unfortunately we have no idea. We are kind of disconnected from it all here, which is a real pity. When we get back to Madrid we’ll get an idea of what it means, but it’s still hard to imagine what it’s like in the towns and villages up and down the country.
Guillem: It’s stirred up some incredible emotions…
Xabi Alonso: I know that every one of us has been very emotional. It is an unforgettable moment for everyone who has been involved in helping us make history. This European Championship has been is a tribute to a lot of people: not just the guys out on the pitch; there’s my baby, my girlfriend and all our families. This win is a tribute to all of those people who could not be with us at this special moment, particularly to Genaro Borrás (the national team doctor who died very recently) and Antonio Puerta (the Spanish player who died tragically at the start of last season). This win is for those guys as well.
Guillem: What’s next for Xabi Alonso? What happens when you get back from your holidays?
Xabi Alonso: I’ve no idea. Right now I’m just thinking about going on holiday, sitting back and relaxing. We all need time to sit back and think about what we have achieved and to take it all in. I’ll be able to think about all that has gone on and what’s going to happen regarding my future later on. We’ll see what happens when I get back.
Guillem Balague: Spain's unbeaten record is impressive. The way that you’ve played at this tournament, I’m wondering, how do teams beat you when they can’t even get the ball off you?
Xabi Alonso: Yes we have certainly been hard to beat throughout the tournament, and in qualifying as well. To start with, the defence has been magnificent: the four guys at the back have done a brilliant job and then, with Marcos (Senna) protecting them, we’ve conceded very few goals. Then you look at our attacking players and our midfielders; it seems as if we have found a perfect balance, where everybody knows their job and everyone works hard for everyone else. Do you know what it is about this team? Everyone, right from the start, including the players who are on the bench, everyone is pulling in the same direction.
Guillem: In order to win a tournament like this, a lot of those things need to come together at the same time…
Xabi Alonso: Absolutely. There are a lot of variables that need to combine in order that you finish a tournament as Champions. This victory shows the world the real level of Spanish football, but this is not something that has happened overnight. We have been at this level for a long time, and there have been teams in the past that could also have gone on to win major tournaments like this one. The difference is that in the past, things just haven’t gone right for us: decisions haven’t gone our way, external factors influenced what happened on the pitch, players were not at their best at key moments and so on and so forth.
This time, all of those variables combined to make us European Champions. Maybe if just one of them had been different, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Guillem: Of course, it takes a bit of luck, but wouldn’t you say that you have been better than other teams: that you are Champions thanks to a margin of superiority…
Xabi Alonso: I don’t know about superior, but, we are most certainly deserved Champions. Our victory is warranted because in all of the games that we have played in at Euro 2008, we have deserved to win. That’s why we are Champions.
Guillem: Do you think that when others see how Spain have won this tournament, that it could signal a shift away from the trend that sees teams emulate Mourinho’s reliance upon big, powerful six foot tall midfielders and full backs?
Xabi Alonso: No, I don’t think so. I still think we’ll see a lot of different styles to our own. It’s just that, with the players that we have, it’s what works for us and makes the most of our qualities. Not many teams will be able to play that way.
Guillem: What has the experience of playing at this tournament taught you?
Xabi Alonso: Right now, we’re all just living the moment. It’s incredible and we’re all walking around in a dream. It’s fantastic; you really should have seen the guys in the dressing room afterwards. I haven’t had a chance to stop and take it all in yet. When I do, that will be the moment to sit and reflect upon what has happened and what we can learn from it. At this moment in time, the only thing that matters is that we are the Champions!
Guillem: Do you have any idea of how big the celebrations are all over Spain?
Xabi Alonso: No, unfortunately we have no idea. We are kind of disconnected from it all here, which is a real pity. When we get back to Madrid we’ll get an idea of what it means, but it’s still hard to imagine what it’s like in the towns and villages up and down the country.
Guillem: It’s stirred up some incredible emotions…
Xabi Alonso: I know that every one of us has been very emotional. It is an unforgettable moment for everyone who has been involved in helping us make history. This European Championship has been is a tribute to a lot of people: not just the guys out on the pitch; there’s my baby, my girlfriend and all our families. This win is a tribute to all of those people who could not be with us at this special moment, particularly to Genaro Borrás (the national team doctor who died very recently) and Antonio Puerta (the Spanish player who died tragically at the start of last season). This win is for those guys as well.
Guillem: What’s next for Xabi Alonso? What happens when you get back from your holidays?
Xabi Alonso: I’ve no idea. Right now I’m just thinking about going on holiday, sitting back and relaxing. We all need time to sit back and think about what we have achieved and to take it all in. I’ll be able to think about all that has gone on and what’s going to happen regarding my future later on. We’ll see what happens when I get back.
Comment