【翻译】2010年8月23日FIFA官网采访 阿亚拉：我只是热爱足球

原新闻稿是英语，但链接已失效：http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1288663.html，所以我会在中文翻译后附上原英文稿。

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罗伯托▪阿亚拉无需再介绍。这位优雅的中后卫随阿根廷队参加了三届世界杯，在欧洲顶级俱乐部效力了15年，并在2004年雅典奥运会男子足球比赛中带领国家队获得金牌。

然而，这位现在回到祖国与阿根廷竞技俱乐部一起工作的人有一个更加私人的故事；这个故事超越了他在比赛中的光辉成就。这个故事始于他的家乡恩特雷里奥斯省（Entre Rios），在那里他开始与他的父亲一起参加当地的联赛。这也是一个关于个人挑战的故事，因为这个人后来为AC米兰和瓦伦西亚等球队效力，并在16岁时成为一名父亲。

 

在接受FIFA.com的独家采访时，这位被称为El Raton（老鼠）的人坦率地谈到了他的职业生涯、家庭生活以及对南美最新一批天才少年的看法。此外，他还谈到了他的国家在2010年的南非之行以及他对未来的计划。

 

FIFA.com： 罗伯托，你在欧洲呆了15年之后，刚刚回到阿根廷足球。情况有很大的变化吗？

阿亚拉：有一些大的变化，无论是整个国家，还是足球方面。这很难说是好是坏，但事情确实发生了变化，你必须边走边适应。就我关心的足球领域而言，我们可以说，我还没有跟上节奏。我已经有一段时间没有训练了，更多的准备工作可以帮助我。但我已经克服了这个问题，最重要的是，竞技在上一场比赛中避免了升降级附加赛。

 

FIFA.com：比赛风格有很大变化吗？

阿亚拉：是的。现在的比赛要快得多。除了两三支球队试图从后场出球外，大多数球队都快速向前推进，试图从那里赢得球权，并以这种方式建立他们的进攻。

 

FIFA.com：这样看来，似乎阿根廷球员总是比巴西人花更多的时间回到自己的国家踢球。你同意这个观点吗？

阿亚拉：这看情况吧。我不是说阿根廷球员没有这种情况，但我认为巴西人一般比我们更需要在自己的国家。请不要误解这一点——就我个人而言，我一直喜欢阿根廷足球，我一直希望能在我心所在的地方。但我认为，我们往往在欧洲呆得更久，因为那里的俱乐部知道我们能为他们带来好处。一般来说，阿根廷球员能给你带来很多东西，俱乐部从我们身上得到的东西越多，对他们越有利。一些球员甚至有机会在他们结束比赛后继续留在俱乐部，他们在那里定居。

 

 在意大利踢球帮助我成长为一名后卫。这几乎就像是在攻读防守领域的硕士学位！

——罗伯托▪阿亚拉

 

 

FIFA.com：谈到比赛中的变化，你认为现在的年轻球员与前几代人有很大不同吗？

阿亚拉：当然不一样了。现在，年轻球员会加入到与老球员的戏谑中，这在短时间内也是不可想象的。以前，当你开始与一线队一起训练时，你会把自己封闭起来。现在不是这样了，尽管他们仍然很尊重。竞技的年轻人都很努力，也很尊重人，但当你花这么多时间在一起时，就会突然出现一些事情。细节就不展开说了，我在俱乐部的第一个月就出现了一些问题，但年轻球员一直都很尊重我。

 

FIFA.com：你认为年轻球员是否像以前那样致力于他们的职业生涯？

阿亚拉：这对他们来说是一个困难的局面。他们想直接去欧洲，而不想继续在这里待着。他们应该在这里打更多的比赛，这对他们和俱乐部都有好处。重要的是，不要错过你作为一个球员的发展阶段。

 

FIFA.com：你一定非常了解年轻球员所面临的挑战，因为你在16岁的时候就成为了父亲。在如此年轻的时候，应对这种责任是什么感觉？

阿亚拉：这很难，而且因为我在外奔波，所以更难。但这是我必须要做的，我从中学到了很多。我认为我应付得很好，所有的事情都考虑到了。我的大女儿现在20岁了，她和她的母亲住在巴拉纳。在她成长过程中，我们没有天天联系，但事情就是这样发展的。

 

FIFA.com：你有一个20岁的女儿，还有三个小女儿，你会把自己描述成一个溺爱孩子的父亲吗？

阿亚拉：不，不......说实话，我根本没想过这个事。只要人们尊重我的孩子们，我就很高兴了！

 

FIFA.com：你现在已经37岁了。回顾过去，哪个事情对你来说更难：是踢了20年的顶级足球还是做了5个孩子的父亲？

阿亚拉：作为一个父亲（笑）！足球是关于照顾自己和自律的。作为一个父亲，每天都在变化，你一直处于压力之下，特别是如果你想给他们一个良好的成长环境，确保他们在正确的价值观下成长。这是最困难的事情。而且我还在学习。随着他们的成长，我仍在学习。

 

FIFA.com：你的儿子弗朗西斯科已经13岁了。我们是否有可能看到另一个阿亚拉参加职业比赛呢？

阿亚拉：他很喜欢足球！他很喜欢。他想让我带他去俱乐部试训，但对我来说最重要的是让他在学校表现良好。足球就像是一种奖励。尽管如此，他是个好球员，我们会努力让他在12月开始参加俱乐部的比赛。他喜欢踢中场。我没有去特别鼓励他，但在他祖父的帮助下，他自己进入了这个领域，尽管这总是要发生的，我想，可能是因为他从小就被足球包围着。

 

FIFA.com：你在意大利和西班牙都踢过球。你注意到这两个联赛之间有什么不同吗？

阿亚拉：我总是说，在意大利踢球帮助我成长为一名后卫。这几乎就像是在攻读防守领域的硕士学位！我非常感谢我的职业生涯中遇到的所有俱乐部给我的一切。西班牙足球也许更有刺激性，如果你喜欢这种风格的比赛，也许更好看。但我不会说一个比另一个好，因为我从两种经历中都学到了很多。

 

FIFA.com：关于2010年南非世界杯，在国家队呆了12年之后，现在作为观众从场边观看是什么感觉？

阿亚拉：这对我来说很煎熬。你总是像球员一样思考，你在比赛前、比赛中和比赛后会做什么。相反，现在的你必须换位思考，只能期待下一场比赛，并与朋友和家人聚在一起观看比赛。然而，当你和球队在一起时，你完全被切断了，像是被困在一个气泡中，你隔着这层气泡没法真正了解外界发生了什么。但作为一个球迷，你就可以看到一切。

 

FIFA.com：所以你会说，球员们没有意识到人们是如何看待他们在家乡的表现的？

阿亚拉：是的，完全如此。我现在更多地从球迷的角度来理解事情，以及你如何需要倾听、观看和感受国家队发生的一切。你希望摄像机能让你感受到事情的一部分。当我在国家队的时候，即使在休息日，我也只想呆在室内，而不是被媒体追着到处跑。但作为一名球员，你必须意识到，你对媒体说的每一件小事都会对国内的球迷产生巨大的影响，因为在世界杯期间，阿根廷陷入了僵局，所有人都想看球队的比赛，欣赏我们的足球运动员。

 

FIFA.com：在这种情况下，你会以不同的方式处理98年法国世界杯期间阿根廷人与媒体的问题吗？

是的，完全不同。但我把这归结为经验。这对任何人来说都不是好事，发生这样的事真的很遗憾。但我们当时已经决定了，并坚持了下来。

 

FIFA.com：你认为阿根廷在南非的表现如何？

阿亚拉：我们都还在思考我们的最后一场比赛（四分之一决赛中被德国队击败）。然而，除了那场比赛之外，阿根廷队踢得非常好，而且很有智慧。我不认为我们有任何轻松的比赛，我们所打的所有球队都是我们必须尊重并需要经过努力才能击败的球队。我们就是这样做的，球队踢得很有力量，并成功地将自己的比赛风格强加给对手。当然，与德国队的比赛是个例外，我们只是无法接近他们。

 

FIFA.com：关于国家队新教练的身份已经有了很多猜测。你有什么偏好？

阿亚拉：所有提到的名字肯定都能胜任这个工作。米格尔[鲁索]目前在竞技，他已经做了很长时间的工作了。人们也提到了[卡洛斯]比安奇。最重要的是要考虑我们想要的球队类型，并且坚定不移地坚持下去。这就是我们所需要的。

 

 

我喜欢足球，我喜欢踢球，并且喜欢从战术的角度思考比赛。但我不认为自己可以做教练。我没有那么想要做教练。

——罗伯托▪阿亚拉

 

 

FIFA.com：你认为西班牙应该是阿根廷的榜样吗？

阿亚拉：你是这么说的，但是西班牙能那么踢球是因为他们的联赛中有一支以同样方式比赛的球队——巴塞罗那。由于西班牙国家队中有很多巴塞罗那的球员，这意味着他们可以统一踢法。在阿根廷这里，这很难做到。我们有在世界各地踢球的世界级球员，但我们并没有设法给国家队一个统一的意志。我们需要带着自信去参加比赛，我们要相信我们自己可以击败任何球队。

 

FIFA.com：在2007年的美洲杯上，当时你和梅西一起参加比赛。他是个什么样的人？

阿亚拉：他正是你看到的那样（微笑）。那时，他还在成长，但成长速度已经快得吓人。他很安静，习惯保持沉默，但很尊重他人。我想，随着岁月的流逝，他也会更加自信。问题是，要让他变得外放是很难的，因为那是他的天性。每个人都希望他变得不一样，但他就是这样的人，你必须尊重他。

 

FIFA.com：你对你余下的职业生涯还抱有什么希冀吗？

阿亚拉：我想先完成我的合同，然后看看我的身体状况如何，我是否想继续踢球，是否有任何机会来到我身边。现在，我感觉很好，我仅仅只是在训练而已，希望将来有机会上场。如果我能够继续这样，那么我们将来再看看其他事情。

 

FIFA.com：你曾经说过，你不认为自己可以成为教练。现在仍然是这样想的吗？

是的，当然了。做教练是一个非常困难的工作，我只是觉得它不适合我。我喜欢足球，我喜欢踢球，并且喜欢从战术的角度思考比赛。但我不认为自己可以做教练。我没有那么想要做教练。无论如何，我未来有足够的时间来考虑这个问题。目前，我所知道的是，我想以某种身份在足球领域工作。我很希望能够把我所有的经验以某种方式加以利用。

 

原英文稿如下：

Ayala: I just love football
(FIFA.com) Monday 23 August 2010
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Roberto Ayala needs no introduction. The elegant centre-back went to three FIFA World Cups™ with Argentina, played for some of Europe's top clubs for 15 years, and captained his country to gold at the Men's Olympic Football Tournament Athens 2004.

However, the man who now plies his trade back in his homeland with Racing Club has a much more personal story to tell; one which goes beyond his glittering achievements in the game. It is a story that starts in his hometown, Entre Rios, where he started out in the local league playing alongside his father. It is also a story of individual challenges, as the man who was to go on to star for the likes of AC Milan and Valencia, and became a father at the tender age of 16.

In an exclusive interview with FIFA.com, the man known as El Raton (The Mouse) spoke frankly about his career, family life and views on South America's latest crop of talented youngsters. Also on the agenda was his country’s South Africa 2010 campaign and his plans for the future.

FIFA.com: Roberto, you have just come back to Argentinian football after 15 years in Europe. Have things changed much?
Roberto Ayala: There have been some big changes, in the country as a whole and also in football. It's hard to say whether they’re for better or for worse, but things do change and you have to adapt as you go along. As far as my football is concerned, I didn’t hit the ground running, shall we say. I hadn't trained for a while, and more preparation would have helped me. But I've got over that, and the most important thing is that Racing avoided the relegation play-offs in the last campaign.

Has the style of play changed much?
It has. Games are a lot quicker now. Apart from two or three teams who try to play the ball out from the back, most teams get it forward quickly, try to win possession from there, and build their attacks that way.

It seems as if Argentinian players always take a little bit longer than Brazilians to come back and play in their own country. Would you agree?
It could depend on circumstances. I'm not saying that this isn't the case with Argentinian players, but I think that Brazilians generally need to be in their own country more than we do. Don't take that the wrong way - personally I've always loved Argentinian football and I've always wanted to be where my heart is. But I think that often we stay longer in Europe because the clubs over there know that they're on to a good thing. Generally, Argentinian players give you a lot, and the more the clubs can get out of us, the better for them. Some players even get the chance to stay with clubs once they've finished playing, and they settle over there.

Playing in Italy helped me develop as a defender. It was almost like doing a Master's degree in defending!
——Roberto Ayala

Talking of changes in the game, do you think young players nowadays are very different to previous generations?
It's not the same, of course. Nowadays, young players will join in with the banter with older players, something that would have been unthinkable even a short time ago. Before, when you started training with the first team, you kept yourself to yourself. That's not the case now, although they are still respectful. The youngsters at Racing are hard-working and respectful, but when you spend so much time together, things can crop up. Without going into detail, there were a few issues in my first month at the club, but the young players have always respected me.

Do you think young players are as committed as they once were to their careers?
It's a difficult situation for them. They want to go to Europe straightaway without paying their dues here. They should play more games here, which would be beneficial for them and for the clubs. It's important not to miss out on that stage of your development as a player.

You must be very aware of the challenges facing young footballers, seeing as you became a father at the age of 16. What was it like coping with that responsibility at such a young age?
It was hard, and more so because I was away. But that's what I had to do and I learned a lot. I think I coped pretty well, all things considered. My daughter is 20 now and she lives in Parana with her mother. We didn't have that day-to-day contact when she was growing up, but things just turned out that way.

With one 20-year-old daughter, and three younger ones, would you describe yourself as a protective father?
No, no... to be honest, I don't even think about it. As long as people respect them, I'm happy!

You're 37 now. Looking back, which would you say is more difficult: playing top-level football for 20 years or being a father to five children?
Being a father (laughs)! Football is about looking after yourself and being disciplined. Being a father changes every day and you're constantly under pressure, especially if you want to give them a good upbringing and make sure that they grow up with the right values. That's the hardest thing. And I'm still learning. As they grow up, I'm still learning.

Your son Francisco is 13. Are we likely to see another Ayala making his way in the game?
He's mad about football! He loves it. He wants me to take him for trials at a club, but the most important thing for me is for him to do well at school. Football is like a reward. Saying that, he's a good player and we will try to get him started with a club in December. He likes to play in midfield. I didn't really encourage him but he got into it himself with the help of his grandfather, although it was always going to happen, I suppose, because he grew up surrounded by football.

You played in both Italy and Spain. What differences did you notice between the two leagues?
I always say that playing in Italy helped me develop as a defender. It was almost like doing a Master's degree in defending! I'm very grateful to all of my clubs for what they gave me in my career. Spanish football is perhaps a bit more expansive, perhaps better to watch if you like that style of play. But I wouldn't say one is better than the other because I've learned a lot from both experiences.

As regards South Africa 2010, what was it like watching from the sidelines after 12 years in the national team?
It was very hard. You're always thinking like a player, what you would be doing before, during and after the games. Instead, you have to think differently, just look forward to the next game and getting together to watch it with friends and family. When you're with the team, you're completely cut off, in a little bubble and you don't really get to know what's going on elsewhere. As a fan, you get to see everything.

So would you say that the players don't realise how people see their performances back home?
Yes, totally. I understand things much more from a fan's point of view now, and how you need to listen and watch and feel everything that is going on with the national team. You want the cameras to make you feel part of things. When I was with the national team, even on days off, I just wanted to stay indoors and not be chased everywhere by the press. But as a player you have to realise that every little thing you say to the press can have huge repercussions for fans back home because during World Cups, Argentina comes to a standstill and all anybody wants to do is see the team play and admire our footballers.

In that context, would you have handled differently the problems that the Argentinians had with the press during France 98?
Yes, completely. But I put that down to experience. It wasn't good for anybody and it was a real pity that it happened. But we took a decision and stuck to it.

How do you think Argentina did in South Africa?
We are all still thinking about our final game (the quarter-final defeat by Germany). Apart from that fixture, however, Argentina played very well and with a lot of intelligence. I don't think we had any easy games and all of the teams we played were sides that we had to respect and then try to defeat. We did just that and the team played with authority and managed to impose its style of play on the opposition. Of course, the Germany game was the exception and we just couldn't get close to them.

There has been a lot of speculation about the identity of the new coach. Who is your favourite?
All of the names mentioned could definitely do the job. Miguel [Russo] is at Racing at the moment, and he has been doing a good job for a long time now. People have also mentioned [Carlos] Bianchi. The most important thing is to think about the type of team we want and stick to that through thick and thin. That's what we need.

I love football, I love playing and thinking about a game from a tactical point of view. But I don't see myself coaching. I haven't been bitten by the bug.
——Roberto Ayala

Do you think Spain should be the model for Argentina?
You say that, but then Spain play the way they do because they have a team in their league who play in the same way: Barcelona. And because there are a lot of Barcelona players in the national team, that means that they can. Here it's harder. We've got world-class players who play all over the world and we don't quite manage to give the national team an identity. We need to go into games with the confidence that we can beat any team we come up against.

You were part of the same squad as Lionel Messi in the Copa America 2007. What kind of person is he?
He is exactly how you see him from the outside (smiles). Back then, he was still growing up, albeit at a frightening rate. He's quiet, keeps himself to himself, respectful. I suppose that as the years go by he's gaining in confidence. The thing is, it's difficult because that's his nature. Everybody wants him to be someone different, but that's how he is and you have to respect that.

And what are your hopes for the rest of your career?
I want to see out my contract, and then see how I am physically, whether I want to carry on playing and whether any opportunities come my way. Right now, I feel fine and I'm just training and hoping for the chance to play. If I can continue to do that, then we’ll see about the rest.

You once said that you didn't see yourself as a coach. Is that still the case?
Yes, of course. It's a very difficult job and I just don't think it's for me. I love football, I love playing and thinking about a game from a tactical point of view. But I don't see myself coaching. I haven't been bitten by the bug. In any case, there is plenty of time to think about that in the future. What I do know is that I want to work in football in some capacity. I would love to be able to put all of my experience to use in some way.