Anyone in doubt about the value of Míchel Salgado need only ask Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper, Iker Casillas, who has had the indefatigable full-back protecting his right flank in domestic and international competition for years. Now 30, the defensive stalwart is enjoying one of the best seasons of his professional career.
A place at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ is practically assured, while at club level Madrid are riding high in La Liga and safely thorough to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. As the player himself readily admits, if he can stay free of injury, it could turn out to be an unforgettable season.
"I feel great. I know there is always the chance of a sudden setback, but for now I'm brimming with energy and raring to go. I'm also determined to maintain the very high level I'm currently at," he tells FIFA.com in an exclusive interview.
The player will need all this resolve and optimism in the difficult months ahead if he is to achieve his goal of three titles with Madrid and a place in the starting XI with Spain in Germany.
"It's going to be a tough season," Salgado admits, "but when you've been around for as long as I have, you get used to it. With the calendar so full, I worry about picking up injuries and what my form will be like in the latter stages."
"There are a lot of games and not a lot of time to recover from them. That can eventually affect both your body and your state of mind. It's very important for players to be fit on a psychological level," he explains.
After seven years at the Bernabéu, few people can speak with more authority on what makes the Merengues tick than Salgado. He still has the fearlessness and drive that he showed on arriving from Celta de Vigo,
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So how does someone so unassuming and normal survive in a dressing room overflowing with "galácticos"? "Well it's not because I consider myself important or strong. I know my role and what I have to do in the squad. At this level, its vital that you're very tough mentally and never let your guard down," the player says.
"There are no mega-stars here. There is just a team of very good players. Perhaps the press like to peddle the idea that some of the players are from another planet, but that only works against us. To lift titles, you need a good team. No one wins a game single-handedly. All that matters is that Real Madrid have a strong squad and that our rivals respect us,
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His team are currently third in La Liga, three points off top spot and a point behind eternal rivals Barcelona, who they welcome to the Santiago Bernabéu next Saturday. "The early part of the season has been marked by inconsistency from all the teams. We were top at one stage but then dropped back to three points off the pace. I think this (parity) is because there is less and less between the teams every year and also because we players have more and more games,
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"The top sides have insufficient recovery times between games with almost no time to prepare. The players are human not machines. In the long run, it's the clubs that suffer the most as it's impossible to maintain the necessary rhythm from start to finish in three competitions," says the player who himself was criticised early in the season for his occasional wayward form.
Some of those criticising the team have questioned their physical fitness. "I don't buy that for one minute. If our fitness levels were low, Real Madrid would not have bounced back the way we have. We lost two successive games early on then fought our way back to the top of the table. We couldn't have done that if we'd been unfit."
Other detractors have pointed to an unconvincing style of play. Míchel understands that not all the fans share the same footballing philosophy but is reluctant to enter into this debate. As a team player, he defends his side and is confident that they will be proven right over the course of the season: "We need to make sure that, come next March, we are in good shape in all the three competitions - the Champions League, the League and,
wholesale nba jerseys, if possible, the Spanish Cup. After that, comes the race for the line, which is when these titles will be won or lost."
The Galician-born player is clear about what his side must do to achieve this: "We need to be consistent, try our hardest not to slip up and come back strongly if we do. A run of two or three bad results could prove very costly."
With two games still to play in the group phase of the UEFA Champions League, Madrid are already safely through to the last 16. Their next opponents Lyon, who they lost 3-0 to in their opening group game, will be at the Bernabéu on 23 November. Salgado seemed to think that team would be approaching their latest meeting somewhat differently.
"Ultimately it's the boss who will decide that, but you also have to think that, with us already qualified and unlikely to win the group, this is an opportunity to concentrate on the domestic league. Perhaps we could use these two games to rotate the squad and balance things out a bit," he suggests.
Over such a long and rigorous campaign, surely the constant pressure to keep one's place must be exhausting? "Of course it is. You have bad days,
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cheap jerseys for sale, and playing for Real Madrid is a privilege. You sometimes suffer because of it, but it also has its rewards."
For a family man like Salgado, the sacrifices are considerable. "You wish there was more time to be with your family and to do the normal things in life. I'd like to be able to go out to dinner on a Saturday night with my partner or friends, or go surfing and travelling more often."
For all of that, the player insists it is a price worth paying: "For now, the only thing I'm focused on is winning more titles and enjoying the next four years with Real Madrid. It would be great to end my playing days here."
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