© EuroFootball.com
Pele won three out of the four World Championships he participated in, but even at the age of 71, this tournament has not lost its charm for him.
The ambassador of the 2014 World Championships in Brazil eagerly awaits the opportunity to greet football fans in his homeland. During an interview with the "FIFA.com" portal, Pele shared his thoughts on the upcoming matches, the football style of "Barcelona," and his impressive personal career.
- Pele, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is approaching. How do you feel?
- This will be a special period and a very important event in my life. After tournaments in South Korea and Japan, as well as in the United States - where the organization was one of the best - and as a supporter in the South African Republic, now it's my country's turn and I will be there with the team, although not on the field (smiling).
- What is the feeling in Brazil before these competitions?
- Brazil eats, drinks, and sleeps football. It lives for this sport! There are big expectations and ambitions. Everyone knows that there were some problems, but they have been solved. Everything is in order. President Dilma Rousseff is working hard to make the tournament successful and move everything in the right direction.
It's a great opportunity to talk not only about football. Brazil needs to show the world what it can offer. Many people will come, so we must take the opportunity to grow as a country. Our economy is developing well, but we cannot miss the chance to take another step forward.
- Let's talk about the Brazilian national team ("Selecao"). Do you think young players like Neymar and Ganso will feel the pressure?
- It depends on what you consider young. They are 20 years old, and I was only 17 when I debuted in the World Cup. They are no longer kids (laughs). Of course, the pressure is high because these players are the stars of today. But let's not talk about individual players. What matters is how the team performs. Brazil has always had great footballers who play at home or abroad, but they need to come together as a team. We still have time for that.
- In 1970, during my last World Cup, we had very famous players: Rivelino, Tostao, and Pele. But we were well-organized and worked as a team. We became one fist - that was the most important thing.
- Do you think the national team is heading in the right direction?
- I hope so! It's good that the coach has our support and time to implement his vision. If you change the strategist, then a new specialist will change the players, and that's not good. It is important to remember that Brazil has a huge responsibility because they are playing at home and fans expect a lot.
- Which older players should play a key role?
- We have a few stars, but there are still a couple of years left. It's a long-term job, so it requires the right plan and strict discipline. Players need to get used to each other.
- Recently, efforts have been made for that to happen, and this path is truly moving forward. Look at the Netherlands, Spain, and "Barcelona": players from these teams have been playing together for a long time.
- Speaking of the "Barcelona" club, were you surprised at how easily the Catalans defeated Santos in the World Club Championship final?
- Not really. Lately, I have been watching many Barcelona matches, and this team reminds me of the Santos of my time or the great teams like Benfica, Ajax, Milan, and Real Madrid from Lisbon. They all set standards in their time, and the secret of success was maintaining a similar squad for a long time. And don't forget that "Barcelona" forms the nucleus of the Spanish national team. The connection is obvious, as it was between Ajax and the Dutch national team, as well as Santos and Brazil.
- Will this style of play dominate future football?
- It is the football that people want to see, so I hope it will become the project of the future. I really hope that skill will surpass physical strength. Look at Germany. They have been playing more technically lately, and that's the kind of football we want. We want to see the ball move, not the players, and only well-organized teams can deliver that. This is how today's "Barcelona" plays, just like "Santos" in my time. I was very lucky.
- But your achievements are the result of talent, not luck.
- My father used to tell me: "You were born for football. You have talent for that. But if you don't work, you will be the same as the others." He was absolutely right, but I was truly born for football. Just like Ludwig van Beethoven was for music, and Michelangelo was for painting.
