Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
My goal is to defend our goal, save shots and not concede goals. But one thing that could happen is to score a goal from my penalty box to the other box directly.
Pep is a great manager who sees football in another way. He lives football and breathes football. The way he thinks about the game is completely different to other managers.
One of my coaches encouraged me to try it. In the beginning, I didn't want to take any free-kicks but he pushed me to do it. Then I started scoring a few goals and everything changed.
There are a lot of people that might not like tattoos; I respect it. For me, it's my passion, so the same way I respect their view, I'd like everyone to respect my passion for tattoos.
That is very important, to play with your feet, it is very important to know how to read the game and obviously save balls and also handle the pressure when it comes to the crunch time.
I think futsal helped me a lot when I was 11 or 12 years old. It helped me to think quicker and look for the passing lines. I think I managed to move those lessons to 11-a-side football.
When I was nine or ten, I had a chat with my coach and I asked if I could play in goal. I started playing as a goalkeeper and it was love at first sight. Only a goalkeeper knows how it is.
When I started playing as a boy, a lot of people were asking, 'If you don't make it, what are you going to do?' But in my head, I was always repeating to myself, 'I'm going to become a football player.'
It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very happy. I didn't think twice. He has helped a lot in my adaptation, in the form of the game he likes.
When I used to watch the derbies on TV in the past, I could tell the atmosphere of those games was incredible. Now, being able to be part of such a great event like a Manchester derby, it's an amazing feeling.
When I started to play in school, I didn't have an idol as such, I didn't really like football in my nursery days. I used to go three times a week due to my brother's influence and also because our friends used to go as well.
When you live without training for a long time, you end up losing that habit. It is difficult to resume things, even if you have some time to prepare. It is difficult to acquire that rhythm again. Many injuries end up happening.
It's something I've been working on since I started out at Sao Paulo, and over time I've tried to improve my skills. But even when I played in the local academy, I was trying to show off some ability with my feet. I actually scored several free-kicks.
I help a lot in the build up and the long balls as well. But mainly I would say a goalkeeper must be a calm person to cope with the pressure to handle when you make a mistake. I think that's really important and it helps you a lot to develop your skills.
When I started playing football, I started as a left-defender. Maybe I wasn't very talented in that position but I knew that something good could come out of it. I got some skills with my feet and that helped me a lot later on. Those qualities have helped me a lot in my career.
I remember my father used to wake up at 4 A.M. He woke me up as well. We would leave home together, he was going to work and I continued my walk to catch the bus. I had my training session with Sao Paulo in the morning. I had to take two buses to the point I could take the club bus.
The role of a goalkeeper in Pep's team is like the 11th outfield player on the pitch, in terms of the build-up, the pressing. I think it's more difficult. There is a bigger responsibility because you can't afford to make any mistakes. If you do, it probably ends in an opposition goal.
Most of the games are decided by a small margin. That shows the intensity and the competitiveness of the English league. Everyone knows here the competition is ferocious. It's a bit different than the Portuguese league. But I'm going to try to adapt to this league as quick as possible.
If we do the build-up so well, it's because our players always offer me different options to pass the ball, so that makes it easier. With calm and with quality on the pass, it always works out. Of course, you need to have the courage and be very cool to play that way, because any mistake can end up in a goal conceded.
