Imagine getting out of bed, picking up a newspaper and reading quotes from the greatest striker in the world crediting you with his goalscoring success.
Well Liverpool's goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero doesn't have to imagine – for this is exactly what happened to him this summer when Fernando Torres revealed how information from his countryman about opposition shot-stoppers was a major factor in him breaking the 30-goals barrier last term.
In the latest of our chats with the men behind the Rafalution, Valero recalls how he reacted to those El Nino comments. He also explains why he thinks Pepe Reina is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and reveals some of the secrets behind our number 25's success.
Okay Xavi, talk me through your average day here at Melwood...
We come in about 8am. Some coaches will have breakfast together when we'll start working on preparing the training sessions. We start training at 10.30am and at that point I'll start working with the goalkeepers. I sometimes also work with the young goalkeepers from the reserve team on specific things after first-team sessions. After we leave the pitch we start analysing the previous game or preparing the following fixture; or analysing the previous training session and preparing the next one.
People often say that being Liverpool goalkeeper is a lonely existence – is it the same for Liverpool's goalkeeping coach?
We try to involve the goalkeepers in the work of the whole team. That's how goalkeepers should play. They are part of the team, so for most of the training session they are working with their teammates. They work on common exercises, distances and tactical movements. Of course we also have specific time with them to develop specific things; things we think need to improve. We try to individualise the training of each goalkeeper to improve their performances.
How much notice does Rafa Benitez take of the work you're doing with the goalkeepers?
I have responsibility in that area of the work but of course there is constant feedback on what we do. We share common ideas and the work the 'keepers do is related to the work the outfield players do in training.
Obviously you work very closely with Pepe Reina. You probably know him better than virtually anyone as a player. Just how good is he – is there a better goalkeeper in the Premier League?
For me, there is no doubt he is the best in the Premier League. Pepe is one of the best in the world. He also has the benefit of being a leader and having a strong personality. This enables him to be competitive constantly. He trains really hard and is always focused. He never has a problem showing his ability. He is one of the most complete goalkeepers around because he has all the aspects you need. He's good in the air, good on the line, good in one on ones, good with his feet; there are no weak points.
Does this make your job difficult – because it's hard for him to get much better?
Yes, it makes it harder because you need to make sure he keeps his level while still improving. With high-profile players you need really good communication. With all the 'keepers you need constant feedback. This helps to improve performances. There are only small details to improve on with Pepe, but it's a nice job with him because it is a constant challenge for us both.
Do you think he's unlucky not to be Spain's number one?
Spain has two really good goalkeepers. Iker Casillas showed this in Euro 2008. They are different 'keepers with control over different aspects of the game but both are top class. You could talk about these 'keepers alongside Petr Cech and Gianluigi Buffon – it's difficult to say who is the best. Maybe one is best in one aspect of the game, and another in a different aspect. In the end, all of them are top class and able to play in the world's best teams.
Despite not being in the Spain team you saw his bald head in the middle of every goal celebration during Euro 2008. Does that tell us something about his character?
Pepe has a strong personality. He is a leader and has a strength which is good for the team. If used in the right way, this can help a team in difficult times. It also helps keep his performances at a high level.
We've talked about Pepe but what about his understudy? Whoever it is, how hard is it to keep their spirits up when they are not playing all the time?
I've spoken about the work we do with Pepe but we do that work with all the 'keepers: Diego Cavalieri, David Martin, Dean Bouzanis and Peter Gulacsi. We have high-quality goalkeepers here at Liverpool and of course the ones that are not playing still have a role in the team. The understudy has to play games in the FA Cup and League Cup, and step in in the Premier or Champions League. They are good professionals and they have shown that. They know they have to keep focused on the team, keep working really hard. They know they have to keep improving
Well Liverpool's goalkeeping coach Xavi Valero doesn't have to imagine – for this is exactly what happened to him this summer when Fernando Torres revealed how information from his countryman about opposition shot-stoppers was a major factor in him breaking the 30-goals barrier last term.
In the latest of our chats with the men behind the Rafalution, Valero recalls how he reacted to those El Nino comments. He also explains why he thinks Pepe Reina is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and reveals some of the secrets behind our number 25's success.
Okay Xavi, talk me through your average day here at Melwood...
We come in about 8am. Some coaches will have breakfast together when we'll start working on preparing the training sessions. We start training at 10.30am and at that point I'll start working with the goalkeepers. I sometimes also work with the young goalkeepers from the reserve team on specific things after first-team sessions. After we leave the pitch we start analysing the previous game or preparing the following fixture; or analysing the previous training session and preparing the next one.
People often say that being Liverpool goalkeeper is a lonely existence – is it the same for Liverpool's goalkeeping coach?
We try to involve the goalkeepers in the work of the whole team. That's how goalkeepers should play. They are part of the team, so for most of the training session they are working with their teammates. They work on common exercises, distances and tactical movements. Of course we also have specific time with them to develop specific things; things we think need to improve. We try to individualise the training of each goalkeeper to improve their performances.
How much notice does Rafa Benitez take of the work you're doing with the goalkeepers?
I have responsibility in that area of the work but of course there is constant feedback on what we do. We share common ideas and the work the 'keepers do is related to the work the outfield players do in training.
Obviously you work very closely with Pepe Reina. You probably know him better than virtually anyone as a player. Just how good is he – is there a better goalkeeper in the Premier League?
For me, there is no doubt he is the best in the Premier League. Pepe is one of the best in the world. He also has the benefit of being a leader and having a strong personality. This enables him to be competitive constantly. He trains really hard and is always focused. He never has a problem showing his ability. He is one of the most complete goalkeepers around because he has all the aspects you need. He's good in the air, good on the line, good in one on ones, good with his feet; there are no weak points.
Does this make your job difficult – because it's hard for him to get much better?
Yes, it makes it harder because you need to make sure he keeps his level while still improving. With high-profile players you need really good communication. With all the 'keepers you need constant feedback. This helps to improve performances. There are only small details to improve on with Pepe, but it's a nice job with him because it is a constant challenge for us both.
Do you think he's unlucky not to be Spain's number one?
Spain has two really good goalkeepers. Iker Casillas showed this in Euro 2008. They are different 'keepers with control over different aspects of the game but both are top class. You could talk about these 'keepers alongside Petr Cech and Gianluigi Buffon – it's difficult to say who is the best. Maybe one is best in one aspect of the game, and another in a different aspect. In the end, all of them are top class and able to play in the world's best teams.
Despite not being in the Spain team you saw his bald head in the middle of every goal celebration during Euro 2008. Does that tell us something about his character?
Pepe has a strong personality. He is a leader and has a strength which is good for the team. If used in the right way, this can help a team in difficult times. It also helps keep his performances at a high level.
We've talked about Pepe but what about his understudy? Whoever it is, how hard is it to keep their spirits up when they are not playing all the time?
I've spoken about the work we do with Pepe but we do that work with all the 'keepers: Diego Cavalieri, David Martin, Dean Bouzanis and Peter Gulacsi. We have high-quality goalkeepers here at Liverpool and of course the ones that are not playing still have a role in the team. The understudy has to play games in the FA Cup and League Cup, and step in in the Premier or Champions League. They are good professionals and they have shown that. They know they have to keep focused on the team, keep working really hard. They know they have to keep improving
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