Kochi: For Dimitar Berbatov, Spanish and Barcelona star Andres Iniesta is more fascinating to watch on the football field than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
The reason: “In football, you should be able to anticipate what no one else could. That is why I find Iniesta more fascinating…”
Berbatov, the former Bulgarian captain who had fired a flurry of goals for Manchester United and Fulham in the English Premier League, fielded questions with a gracious smile, leaving behind the seriousness that he is known for on the football field.
In a black T-shirt and shorts, the 36-year-old spoke about his position on the Kerala Blasters line-up, how he felt being away from the field due to injury and the possibility of taking up coaching as a career.
Excerpts:
Moving to the midfield from the role of a striker
I am 36. It isn’t easy to cover the entire field. But there is no problem playing in the mid-field leaving the striker’s role. For that, you only need to understand the game. If you have the skill, you can play in any position in football. During training sessions, I have played in the midfield and defense. That has helped in understanding what you need to do in each position. People ask about why Blasters aren’t scoring a lot more goals. In a game, aren’t those who make the least mistakes win? That is important. A 1-0 score is good enough.
Want to play more
The time I played for Manchester United was beautiful. That is over now. But I still enjoy football. Not getting injured is important. Watching from the sidelines isn’t a comfortable experience.
On coaching ambitions
There are many who take up coaching after retirement. Being a top star may not make you a top coach. I haven’t thought of becoming a coach yet. The job brings a lot of pressure with it. May not get enough time to spend with my wife and children.
Indians should be ambitious
The young Indian players are talented. They should play targeting the big clubs in Europe. They should work hard with a clear focus. Naturally, the Indian football will grow more. In ISL, the youngsters have the opportunity to learn several things from players like us. We give them the direction, how to prepare for each match, eating habits. Each player has his own place in the team. I like my personal space. You need to understand the other person’s mood and act accordingly. There are several things like these.
ISL, Kerala and Christmas
Excellent! The hotel where I stay, the club, the people around … everything is good. Staying away from home during Christmas doesn’t make you happy. But it is normal for a professional. We have more matches in ISL.
On his teammates
Wes Brown’s experience will help. It is pleasing to note that young players like (Mark) Sifneos are playing well. Must work hard. But avoiding unnecessary things is more important. Should control emotions on the field. I lost two matches due to injury. Hope to return to the field on New Year's Eve against Bengaluru FC.
Read also: More ISL News | Sifneos confident of Blasters making it to semifinals