article: reina's loving anfield life...
Found this at liverpoolreds and it's far too awesome (it's Pepe, after all), so I have to repost it here. Even if you don't know much about Pepe, I'd recommend you to read this, because he's such an incredibly fantastic person.
Balague: Reina's Loving Anfield Life
With Liverpool preparing for tonight's friendly against Villarreal as part of the deal which saw Pepe Reina make the switch to Anfield three years ago, we speak to Guillem Balague about the influence of the Reds' keeper for both club and country.
Liverpoolfc.tv: Rafa Benítez says Pepe Reina is the best keeper in Spain - is he right?
Guillem Balague: That's what Rafa said when he first arrived. Rafa firmly believes Pepe is the best goalkeeper in Spain. He wasn't an automatic choice for the international team when he arrived at Anfield and nobody knew that much about him but Rafa said he was the best because he believed it. Now I think it's pretty clear what Pepe Reina offers, and I firmly believe he and Iker Casillas are at the same level. They are the best two goalkeepers in Spain, no doubt about it.
How respected is Pepe in football circles in Spain?
Pepe has got a very important and positive influence on the group and that was confirmed in the summer. He was the first one to celebrate the goals even though he knew he wasn't going to play. He was always looking after the guys who weren't playing and four different players told me their best friend in the team was Pepe Reina. When so many people say that - and that includes David Villa for instance - then that suggests that the man is much more than just a goalkeeper. There was a moment during the celebrations after Euro 2008 that stands out for me. When the national team arrived in Madrid to a square packed full of fans, the team went onto a stage. Pepe grabbed hold of the microphone and he knew everybody's squad number off by heart. He said 'at number one is the unbelievable penalty saver Iker Casillas, number 9, the man who won Euro 2008, Fernando Torres' and so on. He also gave an insight into everybody's personality and it was a fantastic moment. He was telling jokes to the fans and when he retires from football Spanish television have got his own show prepared for him.
At any other time in Spain's history, would he be their number one?
If Iker wasn't there the yes, no doubt about it. The number three would probably be Palop or Valdes but Casillas and Reina are the best. Pepe would probably wish he could play more often but Casillas is the captain and he was in very good form going into Euro 2008. He has been the number one for a while but if you talk to managers they will tell you Casillas and Reina are definitely at the same level.
Could he be number one one day?
The thing with goalkeepers is it's not about how good you are. It's about what you represent to the side and how long you have been in the team. Casillas has been in the side for a long time now, he has experience and he's now a European Championship winner. You've got to respect that and Pepe is the first one to respect that.
We saw him at the centre of every goal celebration for Spain in Euro 2008 - was that a signal of how important he was for the squad in terms of morale and mentality?
He was the first one to celebrate every goal. The press call him 'the nurse' because he had a nose for a team-mate who was suffering. He was always there for them whether a team-mate needed a hug or a chat. That is absolutely essential to a side which had the quality but needed a push to go that extra bit. The atmosphere in the squad was also crucial to Spain's success and Pepe was one of the key figures in maintaining that fantastic spirit. He was an essential member of Aragones' squad.
Do you know him personally - what is he like as a person?
I know Pepe very well. He looks like a very serious person but if you know him he is a really funny guy to be with. He has a good sense of humour with a good sense of responsibility. He has the right ideas of how a team has to work and is a very good professional. He is a home boy who prefers to be with the family rather than going out. Rafa has said more than once what a brilliant professional this guy is and he is spot on.
Do you get the impression he loves life here in Liverpool?
Oh yes definitely. If you were to ask Pepe Reina now would he be happy to be the Liverpool number one for the next 10 years he would say a big yes! He loves it at Liverpool and I can see him staying at Anfield for a long time.
How important is Pepe to what Rafa is building here at Liverpool?
Playing against the other top sides Liverpool are usually a counter-attacking team so you've got to have a good defence and a good goalkeeper. Rafa has got that. When Liverpool play at home they are more attacking and Pepe sometimes has to be like a sweeper but he can do that very well. Benítez loves Reina.
Do you expect him to get a heroes welcome when he returns to the El Madrigal Stadium?
In Spain they are still celebrating and that is going to last for a few more months yet. Pepe is going back to Villarreal as a member of the winning Euro 2008 team. He was loved by the Villarreal fans and he is going to get a fantastic reception.
[...]
(source.)
There was one more question about Robbie Keane, but it doesn't have anything to do with the rest of this interview, so I decided not to copypaste that part.
But anyway - isn't he awesome? I don't really care about the "Iker or Pepe" discussion because it's evident how important they BOTH are for the Spanish national team, but it's definitely excellent how Pepe made himself indispensable whilst being second. :) I honestly wouldn't want to choose between him and Iker. Fortunately, I don't have to, and my two favourite Spanish goalkeepers are playing for two of my favourite clubs in the world. :D
Balague: Reina's Loving Anfield Life
With Liverpool preparing for tonight's friendly against Villarreal as part of the deal which saw Pepe Reina make the switch to Anfield three years ago, we speak to Guillem Balague about the influence of the Reds' keeper for both club and country.
Liverpoolfc.tv: Rafa Benítez says Pepe Reina is the best keeper in Spain - is he right?
Guillem Balague: That's what Rafa said when he first arrived. Rafa firmly believes Pepe is the best goalkeeper in Spain. He wasn't an automatic choice for the international team when he arrived at Anfield and nobody knew that much about him but Rafa said he was the best because he believed it. Now I think it's pretty clear what Pepe Reina offers, and I firmly believe he and Iker Casillas are at the same level. They are the best two goalkeepers in Spain, no doubt about it.
How respected is Pepe in football circles in Spain?
Pepe has got a very important and positive influence on the group and that was confirmed in the summer. He was the first one to celebrate the goals even though he knew he wasn't going to play. He was always looking after the guys who weren't playing and four different players told me their best friend in the team was Pepe Reina. When so many people say that - and that includes David Villa for instance - then that suggests that the man is much more than just a goalkeeper. There was a moment during the celebrations after Euro 2008 that stands out for me. When the national team arrived in Madrid to a square packed full of fans, the team went onto a stage. Pepe grabbed hold of the microphone and he knew everybody's squad number off by heart. He said 'at number one is the unbelievable penalty saver Iker Casillas, number 9, the man who won Euro 2008, Fernando Torres' and so on. He also gave an insight into everybody's personality and it was a fantastic moment. He was telling jokes to the fans and when he retires from football Spanish television have got his own show prepared for him.
At any other time in Spain's history, would he be their number one?
If Iker wasn't there the yes, no doubt about it. The number three would probably be Palop or Valdes but Casillas and Reina are the best. Pepe would probably wish he could play more often but Casillas is the captain and he was in very good form going into Euro 2008. He has been the number one for a while but if you talk to managers they will tell you Casillas and Reina are definitely at the same level.
Could he be number one one day?
The thing with goalkeepers is it's not about how good you are. It's about what you represent to the side and how long you have been in the team. Casillas has been in the side for a long time now, he has experience and he's now a European Championship winner. You've got to respect that and Pepe is the first one to respect that.
We saw him at the centre of every goal celebration for Spain in Euro 2008 - was that a signal of how important he was for the squad in terms of morale and mentality?
He was the first one to celebrate every goal. The press call him 'the nurse' because he had a nose for a team-mate who was suffering. He was always there for them whether a team-mate needed a hug or a chat. That is absolutely essential to a side which had the quality but needed a push to go that extra bit. The atmosphere in the squad was also crucial to Spain's success and Pepe was one of the key figures in maintaining that fantastic spirit. He was an essential member of Aragones' squad.
Do you know him personally - what is he like as a person?
I know Pepe very well. He looks like a very serious person but if you know him he is a really funny guy to be with. He has a good sense of humour with a good sense of responsibility. He has the right ideas of how a team has to work and is a very good professional. He is a home boy who prefers to be with the family rather than going out. Rafa has said more than once what a brilliant professional this guy is and he is spot on.
Do you get the impression he loves life here in Liverpool?
Oh yes definitely. If you were to ask Pepe Reina now would he be happy to be the Liverpool number one for the next 10 years he would say a big yes! He loves it at Liverpool and I can see him staying at Anfield for a long time.
How important is Pepe to what Rafa is building here at Liverpool?
Playing against the other top sides Liverpool are usually a counter-attacking team so you've got to have a good defence and a good goalkeeper. Rafa has got that. When Liverpool play at home they are more attacking and Pepe sometimes has to be like a sweeper but he can do that very well. Benítez loves Reina.
Do you expect him to get a heroes welcome when he returns to the El Madrigal Stadium?
In Spain they are still celebrating and that is going to last for a few more months yet. Pepe is going back to Villarreal as a member of the winning Euro 2008 team. He was loved by the Villarreal fans and he is going to get a fantastic reception.
[...]
(source.)
There was one more question about Robbie Keane, but it doesn't have anything to do with the rest of this interview, so I decided not to copypaste that part.
But anyway - isn't he awesome? I don't really care about the "Iker or Pepe" discussion because it's evident how important they BOTH are for the Spanish national team, but it's definitely excellent how Pepe made himself indispensable whilst being second. :) I honestly wouldn't want to choose between him and Iker. Fortunately, I don't have to, and my two favourite Spanish goalkeepers are playing for two of my favourite clubs in the world. :D