Match Programme

Jose Antonio Reyes
The Real Reyes
Words Andy Exley, translation Alberto Gabaldon

Jose Antonio Reyes proved a constant thorn in Real Madrid’s side at the Bernabeu.

The 22 year-old Spaniard was at his dynamic best, operating as the cutting edge on the left side of a five man midfield. His work-rate was phenomenal, causing anxiety for Real left-back Cicinho one minute — providing support for rookie left-back Mathieu Flamini the next.

Real fans must have been reminded of the game he played for Seville as a 20 year-old when he destroyed the Merengues defence with his searing pace and direct approach in the final third, a game that Zinedine Zidane famously said of Reyes, ‘he was playing on a motorbike’ so impressed was the Galactico with the
youngster’s speed.

Jose came close to missing the Bernabeu trip following a nasty looking challenge from Bolton’s Abdoulaye Faye ten days earlier, but thankfully he was fit for the first-leg and the matchday programme can confirm, after interviewing him on Monday, that he’s raring to go for the return leg tonight.

But firstly, let’s cast our minds back to that momentous Madrid evening a fortnight ago.

Jose, what was it like to win in the Bernabeu?

It was a very good experience, and very important to have got a good result there for our Champions League chances. It was a real achievement to have become the first ever English team to win in the Bernabeu.

And you played really well, giving Brazilian left-back Cicinho all sorts of problems...
It was a nice performance which I was happy with but I think I have played better for Arsenal. I had watched Real Madrid on TV a lot recently and knew how Cicinho usually plays, he’s very attacking and I thought I could do a lot of damage on the left side against him.

He was booked early in the game and could easily have been sent-off...

Well that’s for the referee to decide!

Your family back home and in Spain must have been very proud to have seen you doing so well against Real?

Yes they were very happy that I had a good game and they’re pleased that everything is going okay for me in general and I’m happy here in London.

The volatile reception Chelsea received in Barcelona has been big news today [Monday], did you get a warm welcome in Madrid?

Yes we did, we got a really good reception at the Bernabeu there were no problems like that.

Real’s team that beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 last Saturday night was quite different to the team that Arsenal beat, with Antonio Cassano and Julio Baptista starting — and scoring. Ronaldo wasn’t even in the squad. Do you think we will be facing a very different team at Highbury?

I don’t think it will be too different to the team we played. I would prefer it if Ronaldo doesn’t play to be honest as he is still a great player. Whoever plays, I think Real will come here with real determination and desire. They know they have to win and will do everything in their power to do that. Of course we want to win the tie just as much and I hope the end result will be similar to that in the Bernabeu.

The young players like Emmanuel Eboue, Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini really shone in the Bernabeu, this has to be good for the Club’s future doesn’t it?

Yes, because over the next few years we will all be working together, pushing the same way, and I think we can get better and better in the future — and not so far away in the future either.

Last week you came on as a substitute for Spain against the Ivory Coast (Spain won 3-2) and scored, tell us about the goal...
I was pleased with it, it was a good goal, particularly as it was with my right foot.

Earlier in the season you showed us your boots with your mother’s name on the left and your father’s on the right, so was that goal for your Dad?

No, I have changed over since then, now it’s right for my mother — so that was for her!

Cesc played 90 minutes for Spain in the win over Ivory Coast, everyone must be talking about him back in Spain now?

Yes El Nino (‘The Kid’ — Jose’s pet name for the 18 year-old) did very well. Since then there’s been nothing more important in Spanish football than him, everyone is talking about him. He has a very bright future with Spain, I think he deserves to be in the squad for the World Cup, but of course I don’t know for sure if he’ll be picked or not.

...and do you think you’ll be in Luis Aragones’ squad?

I often think about going to the World Cup, but it’s not up to me to decide!

Back to domestic matters, the 4-0 win over Fulham at the weekend must have given everyone confidence?

Yes, it gives us confidence, but we know it will be very different to the next match [against Real Madrid]. We have to fight to get into the Champions League places. We have no privileges in getting into the top four, we have to get there through our own spirit.

Perhaps Fulham weren’t as physical with us as teams tend to be in the Premiership, is it easier for us to play against teams like that?

Well I admit that we are more technical than physical and it is harder to deal with physical sides but we have to adapt, get used to all types of play physically and mentally. It’s not the fact that we are young or inexperienced, it’s just the way it is, we have a lot of technically good players, young and old. I think the new young players, Emmanuel Adebayor and Abou Diaby have adapted really well to first-team football and the Club though, they have impressed me.

[COLOR=yellow]And our other even younger new player, Theo Walcott is in the squad tonight. You were seen as a big teenage star in Spain at Seville, also playing when you were 16, do you think Theo will feel a lot of pressure when he plays for Arsenal?[/COLOR]

In my experience the pressure is just for the first kick of your first match and there isn’t any after that, because playing football just comes naturally to you, even if you are very young and I think it will be the same for Theo. He looks good in training, he’s working very hard and is very quick and I hope he gets a chance in the first-team soon.

Quicker than you Jose?

I don’t know, we haven’t had a race yet!

kl

pity they didnt ask bout his girlfriend. i wanna find out more bout her!

oh bless him he's so swt! :)

any1 know more bout his girlfreind?

mee 22!! but that interview is soo sweet esp what he calls fab- EL NINO! bless em
N some newspaper said hes in excellent form! im soo happy 4 him hope it stay this way! :first: :yippy:

well actually i dont but i'd LIKE 2 know very very much!! hehe :D so if any of u know somethin PLS TALK! thx xxxxx

i was reading an article/ interveiw with cesc and he said this bout jose`s goal

There was more good news for Arsenal from Spain’s friendly when Jose Antonio Reyes cracked home the second after coming off the bench in the second-half.

"Yes he scored a fantastic goal," Cesc confirms, "with his right foot as well. I told him afterwards that I thought he only used his right foot to get on and off the team bus! But he showed he can score with that foot too." :D :lol: :P

if you want to read the rest of the article read it here

kl