Luis Martín – Liverpool
Translated from El País – Saturday 3 February 2007
Maybe I’m lacking a ‘Shop Window’
(By ‘shop window’ I understand ‘to be on display’. Not to be for sale but so he’ll be noticed (by the Spanish coach). Not very much about us till the end, and loads about Liverpool!— Mick Quirke)
Voted ‘Footballer of the year’ by fans and team mates of Everton in the 2005-6 season, Mikel Arteta (ne. San Sebastian 1982) was the only Spaniard chosen in the ‘Ideal XI’ after the first half of this year’s Premiership. He was waiting with anticipation for the naming of Luis Aragones’ squad for the England match yesterday, only to be left out again. He has no time to feel sorry for himself, he’s playing in the Merseyside Derby today.
Q. Luis hasn’t called you up again. Disappointed?
A. I’d like to play for the National Team, but the way to get there is to do things well for my team, and hope for a reward. The trainer considers there are other players who can contribute more and that’s all there is to it. I don’t play in one of the Big Four in England and I ‘m paying the price. Maybe I need to be ‘on display’.
Q. Xabi Alonso, neighbour and rival, is a doubt for the Derby.
A. It’s a shame, although it’s a relief not to see him there, I hope he can make it. It’s a very special game. I’ve experienced a Cup Final at Hampden, and that’s something. Playing in a Derby at Anfield is different, emotional. It’s wonderful.
Q. Liverpool look unbeatable at home.
A. They’re unbeatable in the League. At home they’ve lost 1 game in 18 months. However, away from home they’ve scored just 3 in 24 games (before West Ham? MQ). They’re very strong physically and work very hard tactically. They pressure opponents upfield, always in front of midfield. Crouch covers a lot of ground. And Zavi works more than you think, giving Gerrard more time on the ball. They play so far up that Pepe (Reina) says he’s left out! And it’s true. Liverpool are uncomfortable to play against, and they have Crouch, who’s fantastic.
Q. Benitez signed him because Morientes wasn’t being effective in the air. How do you explain that when Morientes is a specialist in the air?
A. This is England. The referees interpret the rules differently, they’re not bad referees but there are certain fouls that they don’t penalise. For example ‘foot up’. When it’s been done to you 3 times you learn to do it yourself. You have to get used to it, otherwise they’ll ‘eat you up’. I understand why Morientes had problems, but I don’t think Crouch is particularly good in the air.
Q. So it’s difficult to adapt to English football?
A. Not for Spanish players I don’t think, no. It suits us, particularly if they look after you. Then it’s up to you. I think the worst position to play here is in defence. It’s very demanding, every lose ball is a war and the defenders have a tough time. The centre-half has no time to look before he has a big, black guy, as strong as a rock bearing down on him, denying him space. Spanish defenders who’ve come here like Ivan Campo or Fernando Hierro have ended up playing in midfield.
Q. Ferrer was considered the best foreign player in the Premiership. He swears that 2 years in England is like 4 in Spain.
A. I believe him, the worst position in England is not up front, but in defence. It’s criminal.
Q. You arrived at Barça at the age of 15 and looked like a clone of Guardiola. At 25 you’re triumphing in England. What position would Pep (Guardiola) play in England?
A. Pep would play in front of the defence with a ball-winner next to him. He’d adapt quickly. Football here is very fast and he thinks faster than anyone. He’d have had no problems playing here but they’d have put a guy next to him to do the ‘dirty work’, except at Man Utd. The difference between Man Utd and Arsenal on the one hand, and the rest, is enormous. Arsenal are European, their pass stats are incredible, they only play with midfielders. Chelsea like to take the initiative too, but they’re more direct. Arsenal play it around, they’re all ball-players.
Q. You no longer play as a ‘number 4’ (ball-player in front of the defence).
A. I was a number 4 until I arrived at Paris (San Germain). I started changing there. Luis (Fernandez) put me in in place of Luccin to play next to Okocha, with Ronandinho in front of us. I’d always played on my own in the middle before. Thinking back, that was a fantastic year in Paris
Q. Why did you leave Barça?
A. Zavi (Hernandéz) had just made the first team and Pep was established. I couldn’t see a way in. Luis Fernandéz called me and I went. I think a lot of him, he taught me a lot, especially how to defend and how NOT to pay attention to your coach (laughs), it’s a joke. But he was really on top of me. I was a kid and he’d played in my position. A good bloke, but hyperactive, wants to control everything.
Q. He says he loves Ronaldinho like a son.
A. I’m sure he does, and Ronaldinho must still be fond of him. But they had their rows! Luis liked winding players up, he had him on the bench for 6 months. You have to understand both their positions. He (Ronaldinho) was a nice lad, I don’t know if he’s changed much, but we didn’t expect him to reach the heights he has and explode as he has in Barcelona.
Q. Did Barça realise the heights you were capable of when they sold you to Rangers?
A. I don’t know, but when they informed me of the opportunity, I had no doubt, play in Barça’s second team or in the Champions League! I’d have stayed in Paris but Rangers offered €9.5 million (£6.5 million). It worked out well for me there, I was there for 2 years, and played in the Champions League. I don’t know if it was brave or foolhardy to go there, it’s not a very high-profile League, you play every team four times, but the organisation at Rangers is unbelievable. With them I won one League title and two Cups. I learnt a lot, a nice experience. Then I sat down to think and tried back home but it didn’t work out. Then I knew my place was in England. I have a relaxed life here and I love the football.
Q. Playing on the wing?
A. Even on the wing, right or left. At the end of last season the trainer said that I could contribute a lot from there and I’d have more freedom. We tried it, it worked out well and now I play on both wings. I look to go outside, and go for the pass inside. He thought I was good, Cahill gets forward more, and we have two solid guys inside. I feel comfortable and I have fun. This football is fantastic. And if you get to play in a Derby at Anfield, better still.
