Reina: “Playing in front of ‘The Kop’ is a privilege”

“Playing in front of ‘The Kop’ is a privilege”

In the three years he’s been at Liverpool, Pepe Reina has adapted perfectly to the local culture and identity. He holds the club’s record for most consecutive games without conceding a goal, set at 11 games, and he’s also earned the reputation of being a specialist when it comes to stopping penalties, which he displayed in the FA Cup final of 2006 and the Champions League semifinal last season against Chelsea FC. His father, Miguel Reina, was the starting goalkeeper for Atletico de Madrid in the 1974 European Cup final. Twenty five years later, Liverpool faced AC Milan in the final of that same competition. With his mind focused on the second leg match that his team will play against FC Internazionale Milano, the goalkeeper is hoping to reach the final once again with Liverpool. This is what he told uefa.com

What is it like to defend the goal in front of The Kop stand?
James Richardson, Melbourne, Australia

- It’s a huge privilege. I feel real confident when I defend that goal. It’s almost as if the opposing teams were attacking uphill.

What do you reckon is the biggest threat Internazionale pose for the second leg match?
Patrick Lising

- Their team as a whole is their biggest threat, but I imagine that Ibrahimovic, Julio Cruz and Suazo will be the players to look out for. But we must be focused on their entire team because they will be trying to turn the result to their favour.

What chances do you give Inter of going thru? Do you think they’re capable of winning the UEFA Champions League?
Mathew Koury, South Africa

- We know that it won’t be an easy task, they have won many games by at least 2-0 before and we must make sure that we score so that the match is played to our advantage.
- Of course! You can’t win it every year but you do have that hope…

Besides yourself, who are the three best keepers in the world? And who was your idol as a kid, was your dad a big influence on you?
Keenan, Johannesburg, South Africa

- I think it’s very difficult to name just three. But I’ll take a shot nevertheless: Cech, Casillas and Buffon. My idols were Zubizarreta and later on Molina. And yes, it is to my understanding that my dad was a great keeper, although I never got to see him play live.

Which save would you describe as your best ever?
Steve Wainwright, Liverpool

- It’s hard to pick one. When they’re important saves they’re all beautiful but I would pick the one against Roberto Carlos at the Bernabeu, it was a Real Madrid-Villarreal and it was in the last minute. The match ended 1-1.

Why did you decide to sign for Liverpool
Jeff Jenkins, Alness, Scotland

- Because it was a huge step forward in my professional career and the adaptation to a new country was made easier by the Spaniards in our team. Besides, Liverpool are one of the greatest teams in the world and they’ve won the European Cup five times.

Would you rather win the Champions League or the Euro
Ivana, Croatia

- Both competitions are very important and I want to win them both. But winning something for your country, with the entire country behind you I think is the greatest thing.

Who is your best friend in the national team and why? What’s your opinion of Casillas both personal and professionally?
Evrim, Turkey

- I have many friends there. Pablo, Villa, Torres, Casillas…We spend a lot of time playing cards together. Casillas is one of the best and quickest goalkeepers in the word and he’s also a great person.

Do you plan to stay at Liverpool for a long time? Is there any one you currently admire?
Karl

- At this time my idea is to stay at Liverpool for many years since I’m very happy to be playing for one of the best teams in the world. And I always try to pick up something from every good goalkeeper I watch on television.

What’s the dressing room like at Liverpool? Did you have a hard time understanding the people from Liverpool?
Amelia Madan

- We are very united as a team. We like to play golf together and spend some time off the pitch, like going to a restaurant. Now I have less of a problem understanding them, but at first I had a hard time.

Can Spain do a good job in the 2008 Euro at last? What must change in order to achieve this?
Andrew Orsatti

- With all my heart I hope and wish that this is the Euro where Spain finally achieve something important. We have great players in our team who are very mature and who are very important and decisive players at their respective clubs. That helps us to be optimistic.

As a Liverpool supporter I’ve had the chance to travel all over Europe and the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced was at Olympiakos. What’s the most extraordinary atmosphere you’ve ever experienced?
Chris, London

- Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş…But specially the last semifinal against Chelsea at Anfield. That’s what I call an atmosphere!

If you weren’t a keeper, what position would you like to have played and why?
Philipp Llave, Rockwell, Philippines

- I would’ve possibly ended up playing as a central defender or a striker. As a matter of fact, when I play footy with my friends during the summer in Ibiza, I play as a striker and I score tons of goals.

First, I would like to thank you for the win against Chelsea last year. My question is this: Why is it so hard to stop a penalty?
Nick Sipsas

- You need to collect a lot of information on who or whom is/are the possible penalty takers and then hold still until the very last possible moment. Then you must be lucky and hope that the shot is not perfectly placed because otherwise everything I mentioned before is useless. A well taken penalty is almost impossible to stop.

You’re a fantastic goalkeeper, one of the top five in the world today. I would love for you to be the starting goalkeeper for the Spanish NT, What do you need to do to dethrone Casillas in the future?
Yathen, Bangalore, India

- It’s difficult at this time to dethrone Casillas, but I will keep fighting and working hard in case I get the opportunity.

UEFA

Liverpool target Mallorca’s Trejo

From Marca

Liverpool are targeting Óscar Trejo as a possible reinforcement for next season. Although their interest is not formal yet, the English club will make a firm proposal in the next few weeks to Mallorca for the Argentinean forward’s services for the 2008/2009 campaign.

Rafa Benitez has made an effort since his arrival at Anfield to recruit young talent who are able to bring quality into the team and who show promise for the future. Thus, footballers like Barragan, Francis or Arbeloa have decided in the past to migrate from la Liga to Liverpool, where they have been offered the recognition, both professional and economic that the big Spanish clubs had denied them.

Now, the next one in line to leave for the British Isles could be Óscar Trejo, who could benefit from the English club’s transfer policy. Thus, the Argentinean attacking midfielder would see an improvement over his current contract while having the opportunity to take a step forward on a professional level.

Loan with an option to buy

Liverpool’s idea is not to negotiate the immediate transfer with Mallorca, at least not in the meantime. Their intention would be to request the loan of the player this summer and to include a buy clause, which would vary depending on the installments. Thus, they would be able to acquire 50 percent of the player’s transfer in December or make a bid for the full transfer in June of 2009.

Trejo arrived in Mallorca a year ago with the expectation of playing in the Spanish Liga but at present time his chances have been scarce despite showing goods amount of quality on the pitch. The presence of the likes of Güiza, Arango and Webó, have shut the first team doors to this 19 year old.

Contracted until 2011

During recent matches at Valladolid or at home against Betis he has entered the match in the final minutes, and last week he didn’t get a chance to play in Getafe despite the unfavorable 3-1 score. The Argentinean is signed ‘til June 30, 2011 and he is not willing to remain in the current situation since it contradicts the assurances he was given before accepting Mallorca’s offer.

In the year he’s been at the isle he has only started two matches, despite scoring a goal on his debut against Getafe. Trejo is not willing to continue in this situation because he feels his progression as a footballer is being stalled.

As a matter of fact, the current situation could have a negative effect for him ahead of the Olympic Games, which were one of the player’s priorities for this season. The Argentinean forward knows that unless he gets playing time, it will be very difficult for him to make the squad in Beijin, making it even more unlikely for him to stay at Mallorca past this season.