ramos

 sergio ramos

 sergio ramos

 sergio ramos

 sergio ramos

The 2008/09 season is about to begin. The first title at stake for Real Madrid will be the Spanish Super Cup, for which they will fight with Valencia. Sergio Ramos gave an exclusive interview to Realmadrid.com to talk about the upcoming matches.

 

The first title of the season is at stake. How does the squad feel?

I’m very happy with how the previous season went for me both at Real Madrid and with Spain. I am excited about starting again and winning more titles.

No one seems to think the Super Cup is important because of the time it’s held at. What does Real Madrid think of it?

We naturally think it’s important. It’s one more title and we want to win as many as we can; at the end of the day, that’s what people will remember us for. We are recovering our form and getting used to the new work we’re doing and the new players who’ve joined us. The Super Cup is held at a good time and we will do our best to try to win it.

Valencia had a rough year last season, but they’ve made reinforcements. What do you think of them?

All teams strengthen themselves. They have a new coach who has brought new ideas to the team. I’ve talked to Villa, Silva and Joaquín and they all seem very happy and excited about achieving something important this season. They will give their all in the Super Cup against us and I think people will enjoy both games.

You won 5-1 at Mestalla last year…

We normally do well at that stadium and I hope we do so again this weekend because it would be nice to celebrate winning the title at the Bernabéu.

The league champions always have the privilege of playing the return leg at home…

We had to have something in our favour. We will nevertheless try to score a few goals over there and concede none.

By winning the Super Cup, you personally would have won three titles in barely three months. You’ve had an unbelievable summer…

It’s been unforgettable. Winning the Euro 2008 still hasn’t sunk in. We have to enjoy it because these things don’t happen every day. Our country deserved it because it hadn’t won an important title in many years. I hope we continue to win many more.

Do you still think about the 29 June?

Of course I do. It was one of the greatest times in my life and I enjoyed it as a kid would. I’ve cut every article or photo that mentioned it. Sometime in the future I will be able to tell my kids and grandchildren that I was there.

Van der Vaart recently arrived, but the squad is basically the same as it was last year…

That’s something essential to us. The most important thing is to maintain the unity we have, which is what I believe makes us successful. We’ve come up with a rather good group of players that combines veterans with younger footballers. We will always welcome those who can help the team. There’s only been one signing this year, but I think he can do much for us.

How is he coming along in his first few days?

Very well; he reminds me of myself when I first joined he team. You seem to be a bit lost at first both on the squad and in the city, but we try to make life easier for him. He has it slightly easier than I did because several teammates of his from the Dutch national team play with us and he can speak his language.

He said he will be able to speak Spanish in two months.

They mostly learn very fast. Van Nistelrooy, Drenthe, Sneijder, Robben… They speak the language well.

The Champions League must be the team’s main goal this year…

I think so. It is a different competition in which every team makes an even greater effort than it usually does. Both the King’s Cup and the league are very important, but we experience them differently. It’s been a while since Real Madrid won their last European Cup, so taking yet another would be very important for us.

What do you expect of the coming campaign?

I am very excited about it. I was more irregular this past year than in the previous two. I’ve had time to relax and disconnect, so I’ve come back with renewed strength, hoping to help the team considerably. I want to be the player everybody expects me to be.

Has Schuster told any of you what he expects you to do this year?

We understand each other with a mere look. He understands us perfectly well because he used to be a player. He knows what we like and what we don’t. He is interested in what goes on in our lives. One look is enough.