Meriem Guettat
An interview conducted by Lucie Desmaretz Tavares with Flamengo FC's Goalkeeper Diego Alves, ahead of their final match against Liverpool FC tomorrow in the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 at 20:30 Doha time, at Khalifa International Stadium.
1- You are in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup. What do you feel? Is it pleasure? Responsibility? Anxiety?
It’s a mix of pride with responsibility. To reach this level is not easy. You must win first the Copa Libertadores and it was a very hard and that long road is what makes us proud. Now remains the last step which is to be world champion, but independently from the result, we r really happy to be here in Doha living this experience.
1B- Do you have the impression to live a dream?
We really realized that we were participating in the club World Cup when we arrived here in Qatar. When we saw the atmosphere, the fans from Flamengo all over the city. ..We are very happy to be able to live this moment which is unique. We don’t know when we can experience this again, so we need to enjoy it 1002 - once more you have been decisive in the semi-final Against al hilal. Do you consider this year as the best one of your career?
I do consider that it is indeed. first of all for all the titles that we managed already and also now for the opportunity to participate in the club World Cup. It’s one of the most decisive years of my life because I did important saves and also for this moment to reach the final of the World Cup. I did amazing this season and now there is one game left and I hope to do good till the end.
3- You saw the game of Liverpool yesterday? What did you think of their performance?
Liverpool is a team that does not need a presentation. The group has been together for a long time now, last year they almost won the English League, they won the champions league. It is a well-known team and also feared by all. They are favorite in the final. We respect that a lot but inside the field once the referee will whistle the beginning of the game we are not going to lack the determination to try to win them over. Liverpool deserves its reputation because they are certainly the best team in Europe.
4 - Flamengo’s style is very similar to Liverpool’s style. It is a team that plays offensively but at the same, they stay very well organized. Does this game look like it could be the game of the year?
We hope that it will be the game of the year, Liverpool is a team that uses a lot of speed in the counter-attack, they have also strong players, and we gonna try to use our own guns to win the game. Of course, Liverpool is a favorite but as I told you we have a lot of qualities and we trust a lot the players we have
5- you guys have managed a unique synergy with the fans of Flamengo. As you know I went many times to see Flamengo play in the Maracanã stadium in Rio and the emotion is just incredible. Is it the first time it happens with this intensity for you?
In a very complete way, as it’s been with Flamengo, it’s the first time. I had heard of the fans of Flamengo, I knew their passion, but I think that in the past years the lack of important titles had not motivated their emotion. Now with our success, the fans came back to feel happy to go to Maracanã to support the team, and we feel it in the field, it’s important, their help is key. All they demonstrated this season in the Maracanã stadium will stay in history.
6- Diego, we have been talking over Doha many times together, now that you are here and you can see the country with your own eyes, what is your impression? Is it up to your expectations?
I had the chance to be here before with the national team of Brasil. Qatar is a spectacular country and gathers all the conditions to make the Club World cup a great success. they will host the next World Cup also. I find all the facilities that we have around amazing. The fans and the people that leave here are very receptive and this facilitates a lot of things.
7- do you think that Qatar is ready to host the World Cup in 2022
Yes for sure, my expectations are that it will be one of the best World Cup of all times. Because of the infrastructure, the culture and everything that the country offers.
Diego, thank you very much and best of luck Saturday