A:
QUESTION: WELL RUI, HOW’S IT
GOING IN GRANADA?
Answer: We’ll, I’ve been here for 3 years
now and the truth is that I feel very happy
here in this city. This is a very warm city.
The people help you a lot, love you a lot
and this is very important to make you feel
comfortable.Q: WHEN YOU WERE A KID, YOU
WENT TO WATCH OPORTO GAMES,
YOU DREAMT OF BECOMING A
GOALKEEPER... AND SOME DREAMS
COME TRUE.
A: Yes, since I was a kid I went to watch
Oporto games, it is my club since I was
a child, and the truth is that I liked that.
I’ve been lucky enough to accomplish this
dream and now I’m enjoying that. I know
that we are a reference for lots of kids and
for me this is very important and beautiful.Q: WHO DO YOU REFERENCE IN THE
GOAL?
A: Well, I used to look a lot at Vítor Baía,
who was a Portuguese goalkeeper and a
huge reference for the Portuguese people.
I also look at Casillas, I had the chance to
play against him, which was a dream came
true. Now, I have lots of goalkeepers that
are reference for me, not only in Spain, but
in the world, such as Ter Stegen, Oblak...
Elite goalkeepers, like Alisson, Ederson... I
like to learn from the best.Q: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE
YOURSELF AS A GOALKEEPER?
A: Well, I’m a tall goalkeeper with great
physical size. I think that I have a great foot
play and my big size helps me in the aerial
balls. I believe that I’ve been growing in the
recent years. I think that I also manage well
the long balls to the backs of my defenders,
I think I control well that space. But I also
know that I have to improve and continue
growing, but step by step.Q: IT IS VERY COMPLICATED TO KEEP
A CLEAN SHEET IN LALIGA. YOU’VE
ACHIEVED IT IN 7 OCCASIONS...
A: Very difficult. I felt that in the first game,
which ended 4-4. There you notice the
difference between LaLiga Santander and
LaLiga Smartbank. The second division is
very competitive but in the top-flight there
are players with great quality that define
much better, and they take more profit from
your mistakes.Q: THE PROMOTION HAS BEEN THE
BEST MOMENT OF YOU CAREER?
A: Yes, clearly. I’ve played now 7 years as
a professional and for me last year was an
unforgettable moment. The promotion,
the Zamora trophy... it was a spectacular
moment.Q: HOW DO YOU ANALYSE THE TEAM
THIS SEASON?
A: Well, I believe that we’ve started LaLiga
well. We know that in football there are
good and bad moments, and we’ve been
through both. And what we want now is to
win our next game and, as I said, guarantee
in any way the salvation, to win the
maximum points possible and let’s see what
happens from here until May.Q: AT PERSONAL LEVEL, HOW DO
YOU FEEL?
A: Well, I think I knew about the demand of
the top-flight. I was mentalised for it and
I got ready at this level. With games I’ve
been getting more confidence and I believe
that until now I’ve been in a good level
but I still have a long way to improve, like
everyone.Q: AND, WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME
ABOUT THE FANS? WHAT DO YOU
FEEL WHEN YOU PLAY IN THE
NUEVO LOS CÁRMENES?
A: It is a feeling that I have no words to
describe because is wonderful to play the
games with the stadium full of people. It is
gorgeous and very important because we
need them to win games, and with they
there it’s easier to win.Q: WERE YOU SURPRISED FOR HOW
THIS CITY LIVES FOR FOOTBALL?
A: Well, yes. The truth is that when I arrived,
in Portugal I was used to play with 1000 or
1500 persons in the stadium, and here there
are 15 or 20 thousand. It is very beautiful
and passionate. Here the fans live a lot for
the football and for the players, you are
recognised in the streets and, when things
are going good, is fantastic. Then when
they’re going wrong is more difficult but
like everything.Q: WHAT DID YOU TALK ABOUT
IN THE LOCKER ROOM WHEN YOU
WERE LALIGA LEADERS?
A: We weren’t talking about that. We knew
that it was the beginning of LaLiga and it
wasn’t important. For sure it is beautifulto come from LaLiga Smartbank after a
promotion and being up there, but we
wanted to enjoy and we weren’t thinking
about it, and we weren’t looking at the
table. We wanted to win games, which is
the most beautiful thing in football, and in
the top-flight is way more difficult and this
is important because you give more value
to it.Q: HOW DID YOU LIVE THE VICTORY
AGAINST FC.BARCELONA?
A: It was a very beautiful victory, for sure,
for winning a club of such an importance
and dimension but we give great value to all
the victories. It was a beautiful win because
it was Barça but there were also difficult
games that we won too, and these have
great value too.Q: HOW DOES A PLAYER GET
MOTIVATED TO CONTINUE AT THIS
GREAT LEVEL?
A: We have to take care of all details with
the demand of the top-flight. We have to
take care of the food, the rest, the gym,
the prevention... we have to take care of
everything because we know that we are
professionals and that we live thanks to this.
So we have to be strong at all levels, even
mentally to continue believing in yourself.Q: IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU THAT
LALIGA RECOGNISES YOUR WORK?
CAUSE YOU WERE NOMINATED FOR
THE PLAYER OF THE MONTH IN
OCTOBER...
A: Yes, it is true, maybe because this is
my first year in the top-flight and in the
beginning is normal that there might be
some doubts and people don’t know me
yet. But later on with what you’re doing,
they give value to your work and this have
a great merit and it’s beautiful. I appreciate
this and I’m very happy for it.Q: WHICH IS YOUR GOAL THIS
SEASON AT A PERSONAL LEVEL?
A: Well, I want to keep more clean sheets,
it is very difficult, but it is beautiful and not
only for me, but for the team, and we are
going to fight to achieve it. But what I really
want is Granada to stay in the top-flight.
This is my main dream now.