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Ramos: "Against Lyon, I'd like to see fans that are not only hungry for the Cup and La Liga, but also for the Champions League"

Realmadrid.com

Sergio Ramos was the third guest on RealmadridTV's exclusive new show Real, which airs on Thursdays at 20:10 CET. During the interview, the team's second captain discussed the more personal side of things such as his early days in Camas, the inner workings of the Real Madrid dressing room and his hopes for the return leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie against Lyon.

This song talks about a street where dreams come true. Where was that for you as a youngster?

Well, it wasn't really a street; it was a square in my neighborhood in Camas. It’s where I started playing games using two trees as one goal and two rocks as the other. That's where you really enjoy your childhood and your friends. That's where you start to dream about your future and have aspirations of becoming somebody.

So Sergio Ramos' first football pitch was a square with rocks instead of goals?

That's right, that's the reality of how a lot of footballers have started. In my case that's where I started. As time passed a few friends and I played behind the buildings where we lived. It was still a rocky pitch but at least it wasn't asphalt like the one in the square we used to play on.

Until what time did your parents let you play football? Did you have a curfew?

Yes, my parents were very strict when it came to that. I had to get up early in the morning to go to school and because I had been training since I was very young in the Sevilla youth academy my timetable was very full. I would train with my team all the time and have very few days off. So around 9:00 at night my parents were always whistling at me from the balcony telling me to come home.

Who is the real Sergio Ramos as a person, for those who don't know you?

That's difficult to say. When people first see a footballer the impression they have is what they see on TV or in a match. It's a shame because people don't really know what footballers are really like. They remember isolated incidents in matches that could be negative, like a strong challenge or a something they see in training. People have access to limited information so they don't really know what you are like; they don't know if you are humble, outgoing or nice. I'm very honest, sincere, a good friend and very outgoing and happy although sometimes that is not what people see when they look at me. I consider myself a very happy guy. I wake up and sing and also sing when I go to bed. I play the guitar and always try to be happy, so I think that if people got to spend some time with me they would see what I’m really like.

How can you be the second captain of Real Madrid being only 24 years old?

Well, it's taken a lot of hard work and all my experience as a footballer has rewarded me with being second captain of real Madrid. It's a dream come true for me so of course I'm very happy to share my captainship with Iker Casillas. There are a lot of people that have been very important for me to achieve my goals and one of them is our President Florentino Perez. He took a chance by signing me and through hard work I've shown everybody that he made the right decision. It's very important for me to have clear ideas and to know exactly where I stand. I know the history of this club so for me it's a dream come true to be here for six years and be the second captain and hopefully I’ll be able to end my professional career in this club.

Iker Casillas spoke very well about you in the previous interview. He said that for being so young you embody a lot of the values that a real Madrid captain should have. What has he taught you?

We have a great relationship. I can't put it in words. It is true that we've always had a special relationship since I started playing in the national team; not only him but with Raul too. He has been very kind to me and since they are unconditional Madridistas they taught me a great deal of things from them, but also from Zidane, Beckham, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos. A player from the Real Madrid youth system like Casillas that has fought and worked for years to become what he is now has given me an example to follow and sharing the dressing room with him, the best goalkeeper in the world and all that entails has been an incredible lesson for me on how to carry a dressing room, be a leader and captain of such a great club. So I’ve been very lucky to share this with him and hopefully we will continue to have this relationship for many years.

I always ask myself what does a player do when he signs for Real Madrid? What did you do and how did you feel the day that you signed?

Wow. I was called up for the Spanish national team that day. I just had a couple of things in my bag since it was a typical concentration for the national team which was just a couple of days long. We trained, played the match and then went back home. That day I didn't go back home. I signed at 11:30 at night and the transfer window closed at 12:00. I was in Las Rozas Football City, where the national team trains, and when I signed it was unbelievable. I think I've never received so many text messages. I knew it was a huge step in my life that came with a great deal of responsibility that I wasn't fully aware of because I was so young without the experience that I have. So for me it was something that I couldn't believe or understand. I went to sleep as a Sevilla player and woke up as a Real Madrid player knowing that I was going to share a dressing room with incredible players like Ronaldo, Beckham, Zidane, Raul, Casillas and Roberto Carlos, who were my idols so I had them on a pedestal. So I had two options. One was to think that after signing for Real Madrid I had conquered it all, and the other was to accept the reality that I hadn't done anything as a professional and that it was time for me to really show my skills as a player.

Did you sleep that night?

No. I slept very little; my brother can attest to that. My family stayed up celebrating but I tried to get some rest and get back to normal and that night I would be exaggerating if I told you that I slept for an hour.

Have you changed a lot between when you signed in 2005 and now?

In general I think everybody changes as time goes on for many different reasons, Whether it's because of mistakes you've made or goals you have accomplished, different experiences or family issues, I think that it's a series of factors that affect you as a person or as a professional. I've matured, I'm more experienced now, I now have clear ideas of what I want and what I don't want and also what is good or bad for me. Evidently this helps me in my life.

Talking to you is talking to a quiet and calm guy, but then in the dressing room you are the life of the party so to speak. You bring happiness; you are notorious for always putting on music. What is the best thing that ever happened to you in the dressing room?

I don't like telling too many anecdotes about the dressing room, but as I said before, I think that people have a completely different perception of who I really am. In my case it's completely the opposite and I think anyone from Real Madrid or the Spanish national team will tell you that I'm the first guy to put on music and joke around with everybody. I can joke around with people but also take jokes from others. You have to be able to give them and take them.

Even if a joke makes you feel a little uncomfortable.

Yes of course, there are a lot of those. Right now in the dressing room boots are disappearing. One of Casilla's boots went missing and a week later one of my boots went missing. I think that joking around like that makes everybody be on the same level and it unites us in the dressing room. I think that this is necessary for us to ultimately win titles. There has to be a good vibe in the dressing room, even if we are from completely different parts of the world with different cultures and religions. All of us are here to defend our crest and to fight for titles because that’s what we all want. So we have to have fun, laugh and create a good atmosphere. I could tell you a million different stories but I'd rather let my teammates tell you. They'll have a lot about me.

We will continue asking them for stories. You are sitting where Mourinho sat two weeks ago and he said that he thought that this team was going to be successful although it's very young. What has Mourinho added to the Real Madrid dressing room?

We are obligated to win this tie. It was a shame since we played a good match in a very difficult stadium against a team that had already eliminated us twice and that we had beaten. We had a great result with ten minutes to go in the match and ended up with a draw. We can't be negative though. We know that an away goal is very important and that playing in the Bernabeu with our fans will be a decisive factor. Having fans like ours is a privilege, but we have play our game and hopefully get through to the quarterfinals to not only give our fans what they want, but to also accomplish what we strive for.

How do you want the fans to support the team during the match against Lyon?

I'd like to have fans that we are used to. Fans that are not only hungry for the Cup and La Liga, but also for the Champions League. When you go the Bernabeu for Champions League the atmosphere is different because people really want to win the tenth Champions League title, and want to be one of the top teams in Europe, not just in Spain. So I trust our fans and I know that it will be a special night worthy of our victory on the field and our pass to the quarterfinals.

In closing, Jose Mourinho said that when he passed by Cibeles he would glance at it thinking that he wants to be there at the end of the season, although he doesn't like celebrations too much and that he would love to see his players there celebrating a title. Casillas said that his dream is to be at Cibeles and that for this club it would be very important to be there at the end of the season. When you pass by the Paseo de la Castellana and you see Cibeles, what do you feel?

I feel a lot of things. My first titles were with Real Madrid. I celebrated my first two leagues with this club so I have great memories of being at Cibeles and looking around and seeing the streets full of Real Madrid supporters. It is priceless. What football makes people feel and especially what Real Madrid makes people feel is special, so every time I pass by Cibeles I want to go back to celebrate a title there, but I know that this is done with hard work and by doing things well. So I think that if we continue in this path of humility, hard work and hunger, we will be successful at the end of the season.

We will continue asking them for stories. You are sitting where Mourinho sat two weeks ago and he said that he thought that this team was going to be successful although it's very young. What has Mourinho added to the Real Madrid dressing room?

We are obligated to win this tie. It was a shame since we played a good match in a very difficult stadium against a team that had already eliminated us twice and that we had beaten. We had a great result with ten minutes to go in the match and ended up with a draw. We can't be negative though. We know that an away goal is very important and that playing in the Bernabeu with our fans will be a decisive factor. Having fans like ours is a privilege, but we have play our game and hopefully get through to the quarterfinals to not only give our fans what they want, but to also accomplish what we strive for.

How do you want the fans to support the team during the match against Lyon?

I'd like to have fans that we are used to. Fans that are not only hungry for the Cup and La Liga, but also for the Champions League. When you go the Bernabeu for Champions League the atmosphere is different because people really want to win the tenth Champions League title, and want to be one of the top teams in Europe, not just in Spain. So I trust our fans and I know that it will be a special night worthy of our victory on the field and our pass to the quarterfinals.

In closing, Jose Mourinho said that when he passed by Cibeles he would glance at it thinking that he wants to be there at the end of the season, although he doesn't like celebrations too much and that he would love to see his players there celebrating a title. Casillas said that his dream is to be at Cibeles and that for this club it would be very important to be there at the end of the season. When you pass by the Paseo de la Castellana and you see Cibeles, what do you feel?

I feel a lot of things. My first titles were with Real Madrid. I celebrated my first two leagues with this club so I have great memories of being at Cibeles and looking around and seeing the streets full of Real Madrid supporters. It is priceless. What football makes people feel and especially what Real Madrid makes people feel is special, so every time I pass by Cibeles I want to go back to celebrate a title there, but I know that this is done with hard work and by doing things well. So I think that if we continue in this path of humility, hard work and hunger, we will be successful at the end of the season.

denise22

why do you credit it to someone if you can download it from their website for free? Does are not exclussive photos babe.

Thank you, madristar, for the interview!

denise22

why do you credit it to someone if you can download it from their website for free? Does are not exclussive photos babe.

yeah ure right but im too lazy to make the thumbnails myself so i just use theirs ...:Dgotta give them credit for that....

3 hq pix of him at the 'visit spain visit madrid' event on monday:

http://donadabola.wordpress.com/2011/03/03...ino-que-eu-vou/

+ 10 other pix of his teammates.

Sergio Ramos – the Real… interview

March 3, 2011

tags: sergio

by unamadridista

A great song. It’s Niña Pastori’s “Vagabundo” and it’s Sergio Ramos’ favorite song.

It is a great song. I have a great relationship with both María (Niña Pastori’s real name) and her husband Chaboli, and I’ve always identified very much with music and with flamenco. Her flamenco says a lot to me. It’s one of my favorites.

The song talks about the boulevard of dreams. What was Sergio Ramos’ boulevard of dreams like when he was a kid?

It wasn’t a boulevard, it was a neighborhood with a small square and a garden in Camas. That’s where I first kicked the ball and played my first games. One goal was made up of two trees and we built the other one from stones. It’s times like those when you really enjoy your childhood, your first friendships. That’s when one begins to start dreaming, to aspire to do things.

So, the first football field where Sergio Ramos played was a square with goals made out of rocks.

Yes. That’s how many footballers started. In my case, that’s where it all started. Later on, as time passed, some friends and I created a field behind the buildings where we lived. It was still rocky, but at least the field was made of dirt, not asphalt like the square was.

Until what time did your parents let you play football? Was there a time when you had to be back by to eat dinner?

Yes, my parents were very strict in this aspect. I went to school in the mornings and from the time I was small, I trained practically every day with the youth teams of Sevilla and I had very little free time because I spent nearly all my time training. Around nine at night, my parents would whistle at me from the balcony for me to come up.

Who were your teammates on that field of rocks before Sevilla? Can you give any names?

Those are the friends that I still have in Camas. Some continue to live there, while others have made their lives in other cities. I can give you many names: Samuel, Jesús, Angelito, my cousins, Pedro, Álex, José Luis, who lived there as well. The truth is that we had a lot of fun, and we spent many hours together. When you’re a kid, you choose a sport, and some like baloncesto more, others prefer básquet - well, baloncesto and básquet are the same thing – swimming or tennis, and what we liked was playing football in our neighborhood.

Whenever you speak with a footballer, they always tell you, “as a kid, I wasn’t the best one in my group of friends, so and so was always better than me.” Were you the best in your group?

No, no way. I can give you a lot of names – Nico, Polaco… – who were the stars, not only in the neighborhood, but also on the local team where I started, in Camas. In Sevilla, I’ve also had very talented teammates but due to the misfortunes and other factors that football has, they weren’t able to make it in the end. Perhaps what made me different compared to my friends was that I had consistency and the dream of becoming a footballer.

You were eight years old when you went to Sevilla.

I started at the age of six, almost seven, with the local team, el Camas, and as it was affiliated with Sevilla, there were always scouts coming to watch us. I signed with them, and it was a marvelous time in my life. It’s true that I had to renounce many things, because when you choose to focus on one thing and you have to be disciplined and ordered, you have to give up many of the things that you would do with your friends, such as going out, going to the movies and all that. I missed out on all that and I had to leave it behind, but mostly it was worth it and I’ve been compensated, looking at where I am today.

Did your brother or another family member go with you to Sevilla to train, because the field was far from your house?

Yes. We lived in Camas and it was complicated. When you’re a kid, your family goes through certain things that aren’t easy for a child to understand. I wasn’t aware of the great effort that my family made for me. My mother would take me one day, the next day my brother, then my grandfather… it was a sacrifice that was worth it. But it’s true that the field was far away and in that time they didn’t offer any economic help.

I’ve been told that one time they forgot to pick you up from the field… what happened?

It was a winter afternoon, when it gets dark early, and around six it was already nighttime. We trained at four and at five we were done. I had teammates who didn’t live in Camas but would pass by the town, and they asked me, “Sergio, should I bring you?” I told them thanks but no, don’t worry because my father or my brother would come. At that time, no one lived in the training grounds of Sevilla; later on a couple lived there, and that would have made things easier. In that time, at night there was only a security guard. The hours passed and I began to get frightened. It was all dark and at night, couples would come in their cars. It turned out that my father thought my brother would come pick me up and vice versa.

And there were some dogs there too, no?

I was tired of waiting, so I sat on a fence and leaned against a tree. And when I looked around, I saw two Rottweilers and a boxer, and I got so scared. I ran away and climbed up a tree. When the dogs got my scent, they came after me. Luckily, the security guard was making his rounds and he whistled at them. I didn’t know where to look. He locked the dogs up and called my parents. I’ll never forget this story.

What out of your childhood will you never forget, what’s always on your mind?

Perhaps the different stages of my life, the changes. In the first place, the effort that your family makes to share in your joy and hopes to become someone important in football, because many people don’t achieve this objective. I value this and I will be eternally grateful to my parents, my siblings and my family, who have given me the most in this aspect. They’ve marked my life. After that, all the things I’ve experienced, such as when you have to leave friends behind because you don’t share the same lifestyles. And you never forget this. After that, when I moved from Camas to go to another nearby town. You leave friends behind, but you meet new ones. You grow as an athlete and debut with the first team of Sevilla. Those are small steps in life that you’ll always remember with a lot of affection.

And what is the most mischievous thing you did as a kid?

I did many things.

Something that you can tell us about.

Well… we lived in a neighborhood that was five blocks from the mountains, on the fringes of the town and there was a lot of empty terrain. There were many couples that would come at night to fool around and we always liked to spy on them to see what they were doing, what they weren’t doing. But these are typical antics that kids do to pass the time. I’ve very grateful to all the friends I’ve had and still have today. Each time I return to Camas, I always get together with them to eat, to chat or whatever, just being together is the best thing.

Does it frighten you to get older?

Yes and no. On the one hand, I want to get older to be able to see what I achieved on the professional level. On the personal level, I’m the first one to be “súper ilusionado” and have confidence in winning many titles. And at the same time, it makes me sad because everything goes by so quickly and you don’t have time to enjoy everything, not only with your team. For example, on the national team, you’re the champion of the world and yet you don’t have time to appreciate it, enjoy it. But in the future, when you’re doing something else and you have more time for your family or your partner, you will be able to appreciate all that you’ve done in life, what you are and what you have been. I would like to tell all this to my grandchildren.

Casillas said one week ago that “right now I don’t have time to enjoy what’s happening in my life, so it will have to wait until I retire.” It’s shocking that you don’t realize what you’re doing until you hang up your boots, no?

The only reality is that in football you can’t live from the past, that you have to prove yourself every day. This sport doesn’t have a memory, people don’t remember anything, and that’s why the day to day, the hard work and consistency are important. It’s a shame that you don’t have time to enjoy things. But you’ll always have a DVD, a photo, an image, a feeling that can’t be erased

Did you make it as a footballer because of your family?

Of course. If there’s anyone I owe anything to, it’s them and I am what I am thanks to them.

Why?

I will never get tired of saying so. Because they’re the people who educated me, both professionally and personally. They’ve instilled in me the principles that I believe have helped me to choose the correct path and not get diverted as many former teammates have. I believe your family and those people around you are key.

Were there moments in which you could have chosen a different path, chosen to do something else? Or did you always know you wanted to be a footballer?

Diverted no, mistaken yes. But I believe that everyone makes mistakes. And if there’s anyone that can advise you when you’re that age, it’s your father and your family. They’re the most qualified to tell you certain things. If I committed an error or didn’t have my head on straight, they would tell me that the right path to take is this, that you need to do this… They’re the priority in everything for me. I’m very grateful to all of them. I will worship them until I die.

Iker’s weakness is his brother Unai. Is your weakness your father? Your grandmother? Your mother? Your sister? Your brother?

I’m getting emotional because fortunately I have a very united family and everyone is important for me. Although my brother and my father will be jealous, my weakness is my sister Miriam. She’s the only girl in the family and I love her a lot. I get emotional just talking about her.

I’ve also been told that there’s another girl that you’re crazy about, and that her name is Daniela. How old is she?

Daniela is my niece, she’s three and a half. She’s the first offspring of the three of us, and she’s like my own daughter. Her father is René. She’s adorable and I identify very much with her. Each time that she comes to Madrid, I spend as much time as I can with her. Once I finish with football, I dedicate myself to my family and my Daniela.

You speak of your family as an important factor in shaping how you are today, but we also have to talk about Joaquín Caparrós, an important person that you will never forget.

Of course. I’ve learned something from all the coaches I’ve had, both in good and bad moments. But if there was one person that supported me when I was no one, when it was difficult to have confidence in a kid with almost no experience or playing time in the first division, it was Joaquín Caparrós. He did this with many canteranos in Sevilla and now in Bilbao… I maintain a deep friendship with him since I played for him. I have a special affection for him and I will be eternally grateful to him because he’s one of the ones I learned the most from.

Tell me that anecdote about the rondo during one training session with Sevilla.

Joaquín Caparrós called me up when I was 16 to train with the first team. During my first session with them, there were legendary players who were my idols, such as Javi Navarro, Martí, Pablo Alfaro, Darío Silva… and I was at a loss for words. There was also a canterano who had made it to the first team. During the rondo, I was in the middle and when I went for one ball, I slipped and I kicked him. He got in my face, which is typical of football, since you get mad, but not more than that. And then Caparrós came up, since he always keeps an eye on what the canteranos do and what happens during the sessions. He came to set things straight, and then he whispered to me, “kick him harder next time.” If there’s anything he demands, it’s character. You can have a bad day, but your attitude should always be good, and you should always return home with the feeling that you gave it all you got even though things might not have turned out well, so you can have a tranquil conscience and sleep well. Caparrós really stressed this during training sessions, and since you train as you play… He is a great coach and a great person.

Florentino Pérez and José Mercé spoke to a radio program a few days ago and Mercé told about how in 2005, he advised the president to sign a player from Sevilla named Sergio Ramos who was very good and ambitious. Is he a padrino for you?

Of course. There’s an anecdote, that one time when José Mercé went down to Sevilla… he loves football, and he’s a madridista to the core; I don’t believe there’s any other artist who’s as madridista as he is. He is, along with Niña Pastori, an idol in the world of flamenco and someone I’ve followed since I was a kid. My parents put on flamenco music for me from the time I was small. Back to the anecdote. One day, after playing a game with Sevilla, Jesuli, my brother and I went to eat in a shopping center in the Nervión. When I entered the restaurant, I saw Mercé there. My mind went blank. I was very excited, since I didn’t know him personally. I decided to ask him for an autograph, and when he saw me, he gave me a hug and he told me not to worry, that I was going to sign with Madrid, that he was going to tell Florentino that he had to sign me, that the club needed people with ambition and a hunger for titles. And he was like a fairy godmother, because that all happened the next year. He signed an autograph for me and I signed one for him. I have his framed and hanging in my room. He told me yesterday that he would go to the Champions League game with us. He’s a special person. And he has a great family.

Mercé says you’re quite gifted when it comes to singing and dancing.

I’m a mere enthusiast, for where I’m from and where I was born. You have your roots and this is mine. I’ve always liked flamenco, the art, which comes from where you’re from. I love music.

And what’s Sergio Ramos the person like, for those who don’t know him?

It’s difficult to change the image people have of you, because the first impression that people generally have of a footballer is from a game. It’s a shame, because really 90 percent of footballers aren’t known for who they are but rather for some memory that people associate with them, such as a tackle they’ve given. But they don’t know if you’re a family man, humble, simple, happy, nice… I’m a very straightforward person, sincere, friend of my friends, family-oriented, and very happy although sometimes I don’t appear to be. I consider myself “un tío superalegre.” I wake up singing, I go to bed singing, beating out a rhythm on my guitar. I try to be happy. I believe the face is a reflection of the soul and those who really know me or have the chance to spend a day with me will realize this.

You’re a person that likes to help others. You’ve been a UNICEF ambassador and the patron of the Apascovi Foundation for the past five years.

Everyone needs to do things like this, not just me, as people. I consider myself fortunate to be able to help out. It’s easy for us, with the importance of sports and football, to help those in need. Obviously, we’re not going to change the world but we can make lives easier and help people. From the time I was asked to collaborate with UNICEF, with Apascovi, with foundations, NGOs, hospitals… you have to be caring and know that you have time for everything. It’s priceless to be able to get a smile out of a child, to go to a hospital and see children who are sick, who haven’t smiled for one year but as soon as they see you, they smile. There’s nothing that can compare to this. Everyone can do this, especially footballers, who are practically obligated to do this, to help others, for the importance that football has.

You were in Senegal. What was unforgettable about that trip?

A lot of things. It was a trip that I wanted to take but it was also very tough because you see things that you never imagined. You can see that death there… how should I put it… that they don’t value the life of a child because it’s normal for them to die young from disease or malnutrition or many other things. This trip changed me and I wanted to take my brother and my sister along to open our eyes and begin to really appreciate things, because many times we complain about the stupidest things, and there they don’t even have anything to drink. That’s hard, and that’s why I had so much interest in getting to know and helping people who practically don’t have anything.

Do these injustices make you cry?

Yes. I’m not going to lie, I’m not a person who cries easily but I am sentimental at times with these things. I’ve cried many times, but alone. I don’t know why, but for example during the trip to Senegal, you couldn’t help but get emotional and cry when a kid hugs you or caresses you when you give them something to eat. With things like that, I’m the most sensitive guy in the world although I may give off the image of being a tough guy or a cold person. But I am very sentimental, and my family can attest to that. If there’s anything I inherited from my mother and which my siblings also have, it’s this.

What’s Sergio Ramos like when he’s with his family? Because there is this image of you as a cold person, and a different one when you’re with your friends and family…

I enjoy myself a lot when I’m surrounded by people who love me, people who are true. In football, there’s a lot of lies, a lot of insincerity. At home, I’m always happy and even more so when I’m with my people, with my niece. There are things that are priceless and one of them is being at home, playing with my niece on the patio, or eating with my family, having coffee, listening to music, playing, talking… for me, those are unforgettable things.

You’ve been preoccupied lately about your grandmother Reyes.

Yes. My maternal grandparents are the only ones I have left. My paternal grandfather passed away many years ago and I was the apple of his eye. His dream was to see me debut with the first team, but he never saw that, something which I regret. That’s why I think of him each time I step on the field. My grandmother is not doing well and when I see her like that, it affects me a lot.

Do you talk about football with your grandmother?

She’s a constant source of joy. Unfortunately, with the sickness that she has, she doesn’t remember anything and she practically doesn’t recognize you, and that makes you sad. But I remember the good things, such as in the last birthday party of my sister, when she pulled me up to dance, even though one of her knees was as fragile as glass. I remember the good things, those images that will stay with me when she’s no longer here and I’m missing her. I will be eternally grateful to her because thanks to her, we exist in this world.

What is the best thing Sergio Ramos has done for someone?

Well, I don’t like to boast about myself. If I’ve done anything, it was because it came from the heart and because I’m like that. If people want to talk about it, then they can talk about it. I like to help out whenever I can and appreciate people as persons. I’ve done many things for friends and family. If it comes out, it’s going to be them who say it and not me.

And the best thing that you’ve done for someone that was unexpected? Any positive surprises?

In general, if I’m grateful for anything, it’s the way that people have always treated me. Realistically speaking, it’s easy to treat a footballer from Real Madrid, one that everyone knows, well. But I’m happy with a hug, a smile, an invitation to drink coffee. The small details are what define a person, not money or anything material. That is what is worth the least in life. Any surprise that your family can give you, such as when you arrive home and they’re waiting for you, are things that make me emotional.

How can you be – at the age of 24 – the second captain of Madrid? You’re just a kid. [isn't this due more to club policy - both on how captains are determined and FP's policy of player turnover - than anything Sergio has done?]

It’s a lot of work, and dreaming that I will one day be captain of Real Madrid will compensate for everything I’ve gone through. Right now, I’m happy to share my captainship with Iker. There are a lot of people to thank for this, and one of them is our president Florentino Pérez, who placed his bets on me. And not only that, one has to earn it and show that they have very clear ideas. You have to feel, to know the history of this club. I’ve been here six years, I’m the second captain and hopefully I will retire here. That would be something unforgettable for me.

Iker spoke very highly of you. He said that even though you’re young, you have many of the values that a captain should have. What has Iker transmitted to you?

I have a fabulous relationship with Iker. It’s true that we’ve always had a special friendship. From the time that I began playing with the senior national team, both Raúl and Iker treated me very well. They knew that I would sign with the club and the truth is that I’ve learned a lot from them. I’ve learned from Raúl, Zizou, Beckham, Ronaldo, Roberto… but above all, from a canterano, such as Iker, who has worked hard for so many years to get to where he is now. Being able to learn with the best goalkeeper in the world is good for both him and for me, when it comes time to learning how to manage a team, how to be the captain of a team like this one, how to be the only captain in the future… I’m lucky to be able to share this with him and hopefully we’ll be together for many years and this relationship will last.

What does a player do when he signs with Real Madrid? What happened on Aug. 31, 2005? What did you do?

I was called up with the national team. I had my toilet kit, my computer and my football boots in my suitcase, since usually with the national team you train, play the game and return home. And it happened that that day I didn’t go home. I signed the contract at 23:30h in Las Rozas, knowing that the transfer window finished at 00h. And when I signed, I couldn’t believe it. I started receiving thousands of texts; I think this was the time when I had the most messages on my phone. It was a step forward and a big responsibility, a tremendous change. And if I’m still a kid now, I was even more so back then. And I didn’t have any experience… You wake up as a Sevilla player and you go to bed as a Real Madrid footballer. And knowing that you’re going to share a locker room with the likes of Raúl, Beckham, Zizou, Iker, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, who were my idols, well your world is turned upside down. And then you have two options: knowing that you’ve signed with Madrid and so you’ve already accomplished everything, or accepting the reality, which is to think that you haven’t done anything and that you have to show everyone what you’re worth.

Did you sleep that night?

No, I slept very little, my brother can attest to that. Obviously, my family stayed up celebrating, but I tried to get some rest because I knew that things should go back to normal. If I did sleep, it was only for one hour, and even that would be exaggerating.

Have you changed a lot since your arrival in Madrid in 2005 up to now, 2011?

In general, I believe that people change for many reasons as time passes, for things that happen to you, for mistakes you make or titles you win, for experience, family reasons… it’s a accumulation of many factors on both the professional and personal levels. I believe I’m more mature now, with more experience, clearer ideas, which is good for me. It helps me.

You appear to be a serene, tranquil man, but inside the locker room you’re the life of the party. What is the best thing that has happened to you there?

Well, I don’t like to tell anecdotes, but it’s true that people have a perception of you that is contrary to the reality. In my case, it’s like that. Anyone on the team or the national team can tell you that I’m the first one to play music, to tell jokes and the first to take jokes as well. You have to be able to give them and take them.

Even if the joke makes you uncomfortable.

Yes, of course, there are a lot of those. Right now, boots are disappearing in the locker room. It happened to Iker and a week later one of my boots went missing. I believe that joking around like that helps everyone to get on the same level and it unites us, and I even believe that this is necessary for us to play better and win titles. There has to be a good atmosphere in the locker room, even if we’re from different places, with different cultures and religions. In the end, we’re all here to defend the colors and crest of this club and to win titles, which is what we all want. So we want to have fun, to laugh and create a good atmosphere. I could tell you a million different stories but I’d rather it be my teammates who tell you. They’ll have a lot about me.

Two weeks ago, Mourinho was sitting where you are now, and he said that this team would not disappoint. What has Mourinho brought to this team?

He’s brought a lot. I’m not the only one who believes this, you can ask other players, coaches, the physios… he treats everyone well. He’s brought us stability and a balance that we didn’t have. On the personal level, there’s nothing you can do but learn from a coach like Mou; if you look at his curriculum, it tells you everything you need to know. Personally, he’s a very direct and honest person with everyone. I’m happy to have him here and to be able to learn many things from him. If we have clear ideas, it’s from the work he’s done and the ideas he’s transmitted and instilled in us, which is to take the same path together and be honest in our work.

Today everyone is talking about the Champions League match, saying we deserved a better result. There’s no room for error in the second leg against Lyon in the Bernabéu.

No, we’re obligated to pass this round. It was a shame that we ended up tying after the game we had, but we just weren’t able to win there. With 10 minutes left, we were well-positioned for the second leg, but then they tied. When the game ended, a lot of things went through my mind. But there’s no need to be negative and it’s very important that we scored a goal there. And we have to think about the 12th man, the Bernabéu factor. We have to talk on the field and bring joy to us and to our fans.

And what do you expect from the Bernabéu on that day, in the second leg of the round of 16 against Lyon?

I believe that they’re accustomed to seeing us in the Champions, and they’re excited not only about the Copa del Rey and the Liga, but also the Champions. When you see the Bernabéu during a Champions game, there’s an entirely different atmosphere. It’s because the fans want La Décima, and they also want us to shine on the world level, not just domestically. I have a lot of faith in our fans. It will be a great night and the fans deserve for their team to go through, and they will be our secret weapon on the field.

Mou said that when he passes by Cibeles, he looks at it out of the corner of his eye, wanting to be there, even though he doesn’t like celebrating, though he does like to see his players celebrating. Iker says he dreams of climbing up Cibeles and that he knows it’s important for the team to be there this season. What goes through your mind when you go down Castellana and pass by Cibeles?

Many feelings. I won my first titles with Real Madrid and I have great memories of being at Cibeles, looking to the right and seeing the Castellana, towards the Puerta del Sol and then towards Atocha, all full of people. It’s priceless. There’s nothing like what football makes people feel, especially our team and our fans. Each time I pass by, I glance at Cibeles with, as the míster says, a lot of desire to return. But you have to do things very well for this to come true. And I believe that if we continue on this path, with humility, a good attitude, a belief in ourselves and hope, we will be able to climb Cibeles at the end of the season.

Hopefully there is no end to Sergio’s boulevard of dreams, because you deserve to have a lot more dreams come true.

All of this translated by unamadridista .... thank u !!

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