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發表於 2006-2-7 10:50 AM
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Edwin van der Sar
Safe Keeping
With an impressive 16 clean sheets already this season, Edwin van der Sar has made a sizeable impact since his summer move from Fulham.
Ever the perfectionist, though, the towering Dutchman tells United Review he can still do better...
What is your assessment of your first season with United so far?
It’s been OK. It’s not been spectacular in terms of the Premiership because we are too far behind Chelsea. But you always have to look forward and I see things improving. At the beginning of the season we were dropping too many points at home, but our form at Old Trafford in the last two months has been very pleasing.
Are you pleased with your own form?
[Pauses] I’m semi pleased. I always think I can do better. As a goalkeeper, whenever you concede goals you always analyse what you could have done about it – you think ‘how could I have reacted differently?’ or ‘should I have positioned myself better?’.
Do you analyse goals you have conceded?
I watch the games on television in the evening. I’ll study, for example, a cross from the second half, or a corner in the first half, and look at how I can improve my anticipation or positioning by even the smallest fraction.
The Carling Cup may not have been a top priority at the start of the season. But, how important is it for the club to win the trophy?
It’s important for the club to be playing in finals, and when you are there you want to bring the trophy back with you. Our only two possibilities for trophies at the moment are the Carling Cup and the FA Cup. It’s a big month for us if we are to get some silverware this season. The league is also important, our aim is to finish as close to Chelsea as possible.
"I'm semi pleased with my own form. I always think I can do better."
Van der Sar on his own form
This month sees the resumption of the Champions League. It must be difficult to watch and not be involved, but do you think the team has the potential to do well in Europe in years to come?
We do have potential, but the potential was there this year and we didn’t grab the opportunity. It’s all part of the learning process. It was a huge disappointment not to get past the group stages. The next opportunity we get, we know we must perform better. For now, though, our concentration is on the remainder of the current season. We want to make the best out of this season.
There have been quite a few changes to United’s defence this season, how does that affect a goalkeeper?
It’s preferable to have the same back four in front of you. We’ve had one or two injuries and suspensions that have disrupted the continuity of the manager’s selections in defence. But, everyone can suffer injuries and you have to live with that. Communication is important. For example, if Gary Neville is injured then Bardo (Phil Bardsley) will replace him. I’ll talk to him in training and during games, telling him what is expected in the back four. We’re good at doing that as a team, we’re well organised.
"Rio has great strength and good leadership qualities. He's becoming a really top player and can lead the team forward."
Van der Sar on Rio
Rio Ferdinand has played in all the games you have played in so far. That must be a help…
Rio is a great defender and a good guy as well. I see a lot of ambition in him. He has great strength and good leadership qualities. Rio will become a really top player and lead the team forward… and he scores goals now as well! If he can avoid injuries and stays focused then it’s incredibly difficult for strikers to get past him. It’s really important that he’s scoring goals because that makes us an even greater threat from set-pieces. We shouldn’t rely solely on the strikers, so if Rio and a few of the other players can contribute it means we are getting goals from all areas of the team.
Signings in midfield have been promised in the summer; how much of a difference do you think that will make to the team?
It’s the one part of the team that is not covered with plenty of players. There are reasons for that; one or two players have left and others have been injured. We’re a bit thin in midfield. The manager bought two defensive players in January and that means we are very strong in that department. And up front we are very capable of causing damage to any team. One or two midfield players, whether they are short- or long-term solutions, would make a real difference to us. We’ll be much stronger as a team.
It would also give a bit more freedom to Wayne Rooney going forward. What have you made of him since your arrival at the club?
He is, quite rightly, very highly regarded in world football. Even now, I still forget that he’s only 20. It’s unbelievable. That’s great for us because there are aspects of his game that he can still improve on. He does so many things right that when he does improve on small areas in his game then he will become an even better player. The best thing about Wayne is that he is not only capable of producing top class performances, he does it at crucial moments in matches and can score important goals. |
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發表於 2006-2-8 12:27 AM
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