FIGO-A

The Goan: You came through the youth ranks in SportingLisboa and are now a part of Real Madrid’s youth program. What is your take onyouth development?

Luis Figo: I feel the most important thing is passion,motivation and direction that is required in the development of youngfootballers. It is important that the player has a goal while working towardsfufiling his dreams. Of course facilities and good coaches are important butthe raw material is that the player should be willing to work hard to fufillhis dreams. In addition, players who have succeded at  high level, act as a motivation for theplayers working through the system. At the end of the day it is up to theplayer to get motivated, and be willing to push to create a mark forhimself.   

TG: Teams like Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City arespending millions of dollars in buying talent resulting in smaller clubs notbeing able to compete. Does this bode well for the future of the sport?

LF: Well, that will no longer be the case with the UEFA,once the Financial Fair Play concept is implemented. Clubs like PSG andManchester City have been spending a lot of money because they have it, butthis new rule will even things out and make the competition very fair. Everyonewill start from the same point at the start of the season.     

TG:  You were part ofPortugal’s golden generation alongside Rui Costa and Joao Pinto. Today there’sjust Cristiano Ronaldo. Why is Portugal struggling to come up with such talentnow?

LF:  Well, how can Iexplain it? It was a generational thing. Sometimes these things happen, once every generation. We were lucky; weall met in the junior ranks and then moved up together into the senior nationalteam. By that time we had a very good understanding. Ronaldo is a great playerand it is great that we have him. I am sure in a few years we will be askingwhy is it we don’t have players like him. There are very good players coming throughthe youth system. The golden generation had players who very good in variouspositions. In Portugal we have a tradition of creating great wingers and notmany great strikers, which means we now have young players who are inspired bysuch players. I am not worried, good players will keeping coming through thesystem.       

TG: What is lacking in Indian football?

LF: I think good coaching is vital. A good teacher is agodsend. A good coach will set the right example and train the kids in thebasics. Get that in order and everything else will fall into place. I am surethe talent is there given the large population.

TG: What was it like to play with Barcelona and then move toReal Madrid? How does it feel during an El Clasico encounter? 

LF: It was great playing for Barcelona, but towards the endI felt I wasn’t being appreciated, so I moved to Real Madrid. What makes the ElClasico so different is the atmosphere that is prevalent during the course ofthe match. The intensity between the players, because of the history and thephilosophy of the two clubs, is what makes it the highlight of the season.  I had a wonderful time playing in thesematches and the determination to do well was paramount amongst all theplayers.