Real Madrid The former Madrid player reviews his career at Real Madrid on France Football
DIEGO G. SOUTO
Christian Karembeu has reviewed in an interview in France Football his time at Real Madrid. From his complicated signing, to his debut and first goal in the white shirt, his relationship with Heynckes and of course the final in Amsterdam before the Juventus to win The Seventh. Of that team, the French admires everyone but highlights above all Fernando Redondo.
His signing and his first goal: I had not played for six months and it was not easy for someone to bet on me and Madrid did. I had also lost my place in the team for taking so long without playing. I signed for Madrid and when I can play in January Madrid is alive in the Champions League. I debut first in the Cup and my second match is against Leverkusen in eighths. I wanted to do everyone’s work and Heynckes says to me: no, you do what I tell you. I know you and play quietly. I remember that on goal Pedja and Ral are opening and in the end I hit her and she enters. That goal has changed everything, it is true, because I had not played for six months and needed to show that they could trust me. Signing for Madrid and starting like that was an oxygen pump for me. I change my career. Then he scored again on the lap (3-0).
His life without playing: It was very hard. Now there is talk of confinement. I was already trusting (laughs). I ran alone and thought only about how to become the footballer I was again. I had to work alone, without the intensity of the matches or the training sessions. In those six months I did not know what my level was and while I was still at Sampdoria how could I imagine that I would be playing a Champions League final with Madrid that same season.
The final against Juve: We knew it was a great favorite. I knew Juve very well. His way of playing and his mentality. But in the group there were more people who had played in Italy like Panucci, Seedorf, Roberto Carlos and we knew what Juve was like and what it was capable of. We lacked a great victory, to change history, and we talked among ourselves about Juve. We knew that to win we had to take all the talent out of the Ral, Pedja, Morientes … and not be afraid. And in those first fifteen minutes is what we did, control them so they didn’t get to the top quickly. And when we scored, I knew that we could also do the catenaccio. They had perhaps more chances but we were right and I think in the end we put the Madrid shield in place with pride. We started a new era, as Di Stfano, Puskas, Gento did in their day …
The second final against Valencia: It was a bit strange. It was also played in my country, at the Stade de France in Paris. I thought I could play and I didn’t, but the coach’s decision had to be respected. I also thought about it because we had faced Valencia fifteen days before and I played that day as central defender.
Redondo, his fraud: All that team marked me. The quality of Pedja, whom I had already faced with Nantes and him at Valencia, but being his partner and seeing his quality and talent, exceptional. Seedorf, who already knew that he was very mature in the Sampdoria, what quality he also had, where does this man come from … Suker, who they said was indolent, was Pichici, Panucci, Roberto Carlos … We played together and created some special ties. Redondo was my pain when I saw him play and he ended up being my partner. That goal against United, that heel at Old Trafford … When he made that dribble I was on the wing. I had it all. In appearance, in the way of dressing, a handsome guy and already on the field … My teacher was Jorge Burruchaga in Nantes, he played with both legs, his dribble … But Redondo had it all too. When I arrived in Madrid I told him: I am very happy to play with you because my esteem for you as a player is very high and we were embarking on the same adventure. “
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