Real Madrid

Is this reasoning not because you know that sooner or later you’ll be an international coach?

Well, we'll see. But if it does happen it’ll be later rather than sooner. Later, much later. Because I’m 49, I’ll finish this season 50 years old, and I still think I'm at the beginning of my career. A few years ago, I spoke with my wife about stopping someday, we were going to enjoy of the children and our hobbies. Now I come home and my daughter has gone out with her friends and my son has gone to play with Canillas. I am full-time coach. After all of my experiences, I still feel the same excitement and the same joy today as I did the first day I won, and I still feel the same anger, the same disappointment as the first day that I lost. Only when I see photos of my when I started with Porto do I realise that that child has become a man who is Real Madrid’s coach. But only in the photos. Inside I feel just like I did 20 years ago. That’s why I say that, for the time being and the foreseeable future, I'm not going to be an international coach. I am patriotic and I have a great deal of respect for what national teams mean. But still, it’s not for me. I have to train 400 times a year and manage 60 or 70 matches per season. I still need to get that feeling for the players, the field and the changing room every day. I like to train every day and see my team play three times a week.

Do you feel like asking those people that are here from UEFA, who gave you the two-match suspension, how they arrived at their decision?

When that happened and they organised the coaches’ forum I did not come. I didn’t tell them that I wasn’t coming because had to go to a wedding or because I was sick. I told them that I wasn’t coming because I didn’t want to because I was disappointed and that they had not treated me well. I am consistent and honest. But time goes by and last season I had no problems, and no one had any with me. Neither they nor I went looking for them. What happened is in the past and we must let it go, because if not it would be a total disaster and it would be never-ending. During the last Champions League everything was good. The referees behaved normally with me and my team. We did not win because we did not win, because Bayern knocked us out on penalties.Platini has always had a behaved well towards me. I respect and admire him for his time as a player. I have some good friends amongst Champions League coaches and also in UEFA itself.I am here, with everyone else, to talk about the Champions League, to listen to and to respond to what is asked

In Collina’s talk he has chosen to use the famous incident involving Pepe and Alves as an example to explain refereeing decision making. What do you think?

I think it's a good example for two reasons: the case intentionality and the case of simulation. If Collina agrees that there are two sides to the story then I don’t think that he could have chosen a better example to coach his referees.

Is Modric the type of player capable getting the fans excited?

We bought him with this in mind. He is the only signing that we’ve thought about and the only signing we’ve made. That’s because I like him and I'm sure he will fit in the changing room and I know that Real Madrid fans are going to like him. He is equally gifted with talent and tactical awareness. He is a team player, who works for the team, who looks to help his team mates. He has the touch of class and magic that they like in the Bernabéu. We have signed Modric because we enjoy the way he plays and he will help us to win.

Don’t you think that Kaká, like so many other greats before him, is at that time when his fame exceeds his performance?

What has happened to Kaká has happened to a lot of great players before, a lot. Top players that for one reason or another have not managed continue in the same vein at their new clubs, in terms of their game and performance or the fantastic things that they could do before the change of clubs. Obviously there football is not an exact science. Players are not robots. Kaká arrived with injury problems, he suffered in his first season. For that reason he was in and out of the team. In his second year at Real Madrid he had surgery and had a lot of months off. When he returned he did so little by little. Last season, he was back training full time he had very, very good periods. Kaká had some key moments, like when Di María was injured and he was the solution to the problem on the wing. He did some good things. I said before the transfer market closed that if Kaká stays that it was not a problem for Mourinho. He knows, because I told him that his situation is not easy because we have other options, but he accepted the challenge. He is training well. When we think we can use him we’ll use him and try to get the best out of him. It will not be easy, but we have a small squad of only 20 players, of which two, Morata and Nacho also have to help out Castilla and I'm sure that Kaká will get his chance. Tiredness, cards, the size of the squad ... he will get a chance. I am convinced that when that time comes, Kaká will respond and help Real Madrid.

Isn’t it a bit of a pain that Essien calls you dad?

No. It's a joke. It's a sign of affection. Özil calls me dad too... it's okay. As long as he runs around the field for me as if I really were his father its fine by me.