interviewLast year you made history in Madrid but
this month Liverpool return to the Wanda
Metroplitano Stadium to play against
Atletico – how do you feel about this tie?
ALI: When we found out they would be our opponents, I knew
they are a very strong team as I’d already faced Atletico Madrid
for Roma. They are a team that defends very well, a high-
intensity team that likes to play offensive football, so it’ll be a big
challenge for us. But we’ll be a big challenge for them as well.
As you know, Atletico have another top
goalie in Jan Oblak...
ALI: He’s a goalkeeper I admire a lot. He’s shown his quality
over the last few seasons. I believe he’s one of, if not the, most
important player for Atletico Madrid. He’s definitely a player
that makes a difference on the pitch, but we also have great
attacking players who can make a difference as well.
Atletico Madrid are not just Oblak, they have a lot of quality
players like Joao Felix. It’s a team not based on individuals.
They’re a team that plays collectively and that’s their greatest
strength.
Changing the subject entirely, you both share
a passion for music but who’s the better
singer?
BOBBY: He’s a better singer than me! But I like singing. I like to
tell people that if I wasn’t a footballer I’d be a singer, even with a
rubbish voice.
ALI: I think Bobby with the microphone would be more
charismatic.
BOBBY: Stage presence!
ALI: Yes, more stage presence! He’d let go more. He’d sing and
I’d play the guitar. We’d make a good double-act. We both like
sertaneja [the Brazilian equivalent of country music].
BOBBY: Gospel music. That would make a good song.
ALI: Sertaneja with gospel!
Who in the dressing-room would definitely
not be the singer?
BOTH: Robbo!
ALI: I know Klopp plays the drums.
BOBBY: Fabinho could be the dancer. Gini or Van Dijk as well.
And Sadio of course, Sadio as a dancer.
ALI: I think that’d make a good band!
HE’S A BETTER
SINGER THAN ME!
BUT I LIKE SINGING.
I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE
THAT IF I WASN’T A
FOOTBALLER I’D BE
A SINGER, EVEN WITH
A RUBBISH VOICE