Booting Up

Have you had fun jumping in and out of the cold water today?
Yes, the water was fine actually. It was warm, like a bath really – but the photography was tiring, because I kept having to go down and come up again for breath so many times.

What are your new boots like then?
Great. I’m really pleased with them but I don’t normally play underwater, you know. To be serious for a minute, it was quite an experience in the tank and it was a good idea for a photo shoot, I think.

How do you think the Spanish league compares to the English Premiership?
They are very different, because in England you play much more aggressive football, perhaps it is more dynamic in some ways. In Spain, there is more quality, but there is less pace than in the English game. I firmly believe that they are the two best leagues in the world at the moment.

You played Chelsea and Liverpool in the Champions League last year – who was the best team?
The reality is that the best team we have played recently has got to be Liverpool. Chelsea has a great squad, but having won and lost some good matches against both teams, Liverpool is the tougher side.

English players like to go out partying and get drunk – do you do that a lot?
Not really; we are all still young and have our own lives outside of football with our own friends. Going out and enjoying yourself is normal, it’s just what we need to do to wind down, but I don’t know about getting drunk all the time!

For the full interview, check out Oct issue of Maxim: Out now at all newsstands!