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Czwartek, 02 listopada 2006
I’m not Beckham, I am Boruc! (8.07.06)
We talk to Artur five days after national team returned from World Cup. Artur is furious: - we had a lifetime chance and wasted it - says - I’ll never watch any replays from those matches! Then, irritated he lit a cigarette. We seat in a living room in Boruc house in Wawer near Warsaw. Silence, quiet, a few rooms furnished with style and elegance with a view of the woods. Everybody knows Artur here, though he is rather a guest in his own house. He’s lived in Scotland for a year. This year, he won Scottish Championship with Celtic Glasgow, where he plays together with Maciej Żurawski. Many managers believe he’s going to be one of the greatest ones. His wife, Kasia and himself they bought a house in the centre of Glasgow and try to get used to Scottish weather. People have lived there for hundreds of years and they got used to it, so will we - says laughing. But he cannot imagine staying there forever. In comparison to other Polish footballers he speaks good Polish. He swears rarely, but is well known for his sharp tongue.
Gala: Did you cry after the game with Germany?
Artur Boruc: Even in a changing room I couldn’t calm down... It’s not a secret this loss was a devastating one. Until the final whistle I believed we can at least draw. If Germans scored the goal in the beginning of the game that wouldn’t hurt so much. When you lose 60 seconds from the last whistle it’s different. It was like a bolt from the blue.
Is it your normal reaction when your team looses?
- It is very rare I cry in public places. It’s easier to get up after a defeat in the league or friendly game. But that was the most important event in my whole professional life. After the game with Germany, for us World Cup was over. And it was the most difficult to accept. We bungled this World Cup and it has to be said loud.
Are you ashamed of your performance at this World Cup?
- We cannot be proud of it.
Why did you fail?
- Many of us didn’t cope with a pressure, with such a big event. After four weeks of training camp, we were fed up with each other. We lost the game with Ecuador before we ran onto the pitch. We did in our heads. A year earlier, we won with Ecuador 3:0 and we were convinced that we didn’t have to do anything and would win anyway.
Did you underestimate them?
- Not necessarily. But no one thought they can win with us. The worst possibility was a draw. And then, there was no mobilisation and motivation for the game. There was nobody, who would shout: “Lads, get your f… asses and start working, otherwise we end up in deep s…”. Everybody could see how it ended up. We lost to pretty average team that didn’t deserve to play in the next round. They qualified only because of us.
No leader in the team?
- There are few lads they can shout. Some of them started in the changing. But nobody would listen to. We need someone whose football skills and personality would generate more respect. It’s pretty hard to find the right person.
Maybe you will earn such respect in the team?
- I would love that. But you cannot assume something like that. If I was appointed I would do anything to meet the expectations.
What do you feel like, watching the World Cup on TV, now?
- Pity. As anyone else I feel like I was knocked-out. It will take some time before I’ll get over with it. I watched England playing Ecuador and was angry we weren’t there. Weak Ecuador, even weaker England. Teams playing in second round of World Cup were very poor and could beat them. If we played football, of course - not just pretending. As usual we are wise afterwards.
You were one of very few, who evaded criticism in Germany. You were complimented for your performance in Dortmund. Do you feel like the only winner on a national team in the World Cup?
- If you return home after two matches, there’s no way you feel like a winner. Speaking about judgment of my performance, it’s not that simple, either. Everybody knows that I’m a big fan of Legia and say it clearly anytime there’s occasion to do so. And many people in Poland cannot accept it.
I think you like to heat up the atmosphere around yourself. Do you feel good being controversial?
- I say what I think, that’s it. Poland is full of grab, dull people with no opinion. I’m not ashamed of mine, so why should I sit quiet? On the other hand, I don’t want to be remembered only because I said something controversial during the interview. The most important is how they will remember me as a goalkeeper.
You played very well in the World Cup. But you also had bad days last season, too. How do you cope with criticism?
- I’m tough with it. I believe in myself and I know how good I am. Of course, I listen to those, who criticise me, but it has to be matter-of-fact and reasonable. But I feel totally helpless when I read headlines such as “Boruc is too fat to keep well ". I know I’m not light weight, but it doesn’t affect my goalkeeping.
What is the truth about your weight?
- When I was leaving Legia I weighed 90 kilos (198.5 pounds, 14.2 stones). After a few first games for Celtic it was 86 kilos (189.6 pounds, 13.5 stones). Now it could be a little bit more. You know, the grill season has started... Anyway, this anti-Boruc hunt is not nice at all.
Who started it?
- I’m well aware that there are many people in Poland, who simply dislike me very much.
Why is that??
- Maybe for the way I behave? For I am too relaxed, too self-confident, I’m not afraid to say what I think.
On the other hand, Internet forums are full of comments from fallen in love with you girl-fans. For example: "Artur, you are super-cute, your wife is so lucky ". Or: "Artur is heavenly, gorgeous one", "Boruc is hot stuff ". It seems you are becoming a sex symbol of Polish football.
- Sex symbol! That’s funny!
Thanks to you many women started to be interest in football.
- It’s great that women support us. At the airport, after I landed, I felt like a Hollywood star for a moment. There were many girls, they asked for autographs. I don’t want to know what would have happen if we were successful in the World Cup. It’s nice that girls watch football.
They rather watch footballers than football itself.
- That’s true. But it doesn’t bother me. Signs of sympathy are always nice.
Isn’t your wife jealous?
- Our relationship is so strong and healthy I don’t think that can be ruined by any comments in the Internet or other signs of sympathy.
How long have Kasia and you known each other?
- We’ve been together for eight years, we will celebrate fifth wedding anniversary soon.
Such long relationships are not popular among Polish footballers.
- It’s a matter of attitude. Indeed, some of them replaced their wives with new ones. Not me. But who knows, maybe my wife will replace me?
In no time you will be announced next "Polish Beckham".
- I’m not and I’ not going to be any Beckham. I am Boruc. That’s it.
In Great Britain, “People” magazine already noticed you.
- I don’t feel like a star. And it’s not going to change. But I realise that I am a bit mannered. I played for Legia, every boy in Poland dreams about it. When I arrived to Warsaw as a young goalkeeper from Siedlce, I wasn’t myself for a while.
What does it mean you weren’t yourself?
- It’s natural, when you’re doing well, then you become more self-confident. For me, a contract with Legia was a great success itself. Now, I am 26, I won Polish and Scottish titles, I played in the World Cup. It’s hard to believe, but this is true. That makes me calm and quiet, helps to believe in myself. I worked out no-stress attitude towards reality.
I have always thought your self-confidence have been natural.
- Not really. I worked hard to get there. Working with sports psychologist helped me a lot.
In Glasgow, you become a star very quickly, and then you asked for troubles saying that Celtic supporters are not a patch on Legia ones.
- It was an outcome of having a good time with Legia fans, and then someone blew it up. I was misunderstood, my intentions were. Fortunately, everyone on a team was relaxed. Roy Keane, already a legend in Great Britain, told me to forget about that.
You had a chance to see what British mechanism of creating sports celebrities is like.
- I’m scared. In Poland, it is normal. Paparazzi do not hide behind every corner; no-one is looking for sensational news at any price. But of course, the sports level and money in Great Britain and Poland are incomparable. If such great and well paid footballers like Beckham and Rooney played in Poland, that would probably change.
In a few years you will find yourself in Arsenal or Manchester United, win Champions League. Will we experience Boruc-mania in Poland then?
- I don’t think so. I do what I can do and try to be the best in it. I cannot see myself on the catwalk. I’m a footballer, not a model.
Beckham sees working in advertising as a great business
- I am not and I do not want to be Beckham. I know you cannot do anything for money. Football is my passion. I enjoy it. I am absolutely sure that I would play even for free.
Did you recover after the World Cup?
- This is the past. I see no reason to go back to it. We didn’t earn anything in the World Cup. But we collected some experience. I hope it will pay in the future.
Reporter: Maciej Wesołowski
Source: Gala
Prepared by Sebastian Biały
Źródło: Gala
.: dodaj komentarz
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Wasze komentarze: (13)
claire x (2006-11-02 19:54:24):
Hopefully he will be at celtic for years to come! x
ja :D (2006-11-03 18:05:14):
chyba znalazłam błąd :D:D ;)
szuwarek_madzia (2006-11-03 18:46:59):
łoo przestań ;) Człowiek się stara, chce poszerzac kult Artka a Ty o błedach piszesz..:) a czy Ty przypadkiem nie jestes ... ?? :> bo pewna osoba na gygy mi też o tym pisała :D 3majta się i jeszcze raz ukłon w stronę tłumacza jak i Turi i wszystkich innych którzy wpadli na taki wspaniały pomysł :D
jullka (2006-11-03 20:11:14):
dobrze ze znam angelski
ale na dniach prosze o ten wywiad po polsku. Pozdrawiam .
Julciu, kochanie, napisane jest wyraznie ze to wywiad z lipca :) i juz znajduje sie w spisie naszych wywiadow - jest to wywiad z Gali, tytul: nie jestem Beckhamem, jestem Borucem:)
lubega (2006-11-03 23:03:59):
artek poje3haliśmy lecha 3-2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
karolina (2006-11-04 11:37:43):
A czy przypadkiem zamiast (...) some of them replaced their WIVES with new ones. nie powinno byc WIFES ?
AQQ (2006-11-05 11:37:15):
Nie nie powinno. Naucz się kobieto angielskiego a potem coś napisz.
David Laird (2006-11-05 23:57:07):
im a celtic fan and by the boruc ya fukin tool celtic fans are the best in the world. i have lost alot of respect for you.
turi (2006-11-06 15:09:31):
Artur powiedział prawdę. Najlepsi na świecie są kibice Legii, a nie Celtiku :) Arti RESPECT.
:P
~karcia~ (2006-11-06 19:10:33):
jesli myslisz madziu, ze ja napisalam o tym bledzie, to musze cie zaskoczyc :D:D nie ja :D ;)
anon (2007-09-24 15:32:38):
you are the best keeper celtic have seen in a while. don't leave!
btw, you're so sexy! ;)
love all the pictures
Barney Kane (2008-01-09 11:29:05):
as a true celtic fan i can tell you to ignore so called fans such as david laird who is the real tool here. you're the man celtics number1 for years to come hopefully. HAIL HAIL!
Kerry (2008-04-20 16:05:21):
I Love U Artur plz dont leave celtic xxx
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