https://old.reddit.com/r/LiverpoolFC/comments/ddcq6j/long_and_great_interview_with_alisson_becker/ - it's translated from Brazilian Portuguese.
Q: About the FIFA awards. What does it mean to be recognized by players and legends of the game?
A:My story doesn't differ much from the other players', started from nothing. I played for Internacional since I was 9, step by step, facing challenges that sometimes made me want to give up, but I always had great professionals and people behind me, helping me as a player and as a human - the most responsible for that are my parents and my brother; also my sister-in-law, who has always encouraged me while I was in the academy levels, always took care of me. Then later, my wife, obviously, after I became a professional, she has been my foundation and she's part of everything I achieved. My family, my daughter, I leave all my problems behind when I get home, they are always there to make me happy.
To be there in that stage in front of legends of the game, all I can say is that I'm honored. These trophies are very special, after all the hard work I've done, the criticism and the defeats fade away a bit and it's a honour to be presented these awards as a 26 year old, still young - and there's more to come.
Q:There's a viral picture on the internet of you, Dida and Julio Cesar together. How do you feel cementing your name as one of Brazil's greatests goalkeepers?
A:Those you named, alongside Cássio, Fábio, Clemer are very good goalkeepers and they also deserve to be recognized. I became the first Brazilian goalkeeper to be considered the best in the world and I believe those who have only played in Brazil may not get international recognition but they also deserve it. Dida and Julio Cesar also had outstanding seasons in their careers and to see their happy faces while I was there on the stage meant so much. Also Ederson and Ter Stegen - I felt like a winner already just to be nominated alongside them. Anyone of those names would be a fair winner - that makes the achievement even greater for me. I'm honored.
Q: How do these awards work? Do you have time to interact with other players while being in a room full of great players and legends? It must be very special.
It's very special indeed. Sometimes I felt like a kid looking at all those legends. I met Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Silva. I couldn't meet all the Brazilians who were there because the event is a bit of a turmoil - everyone wants to meet the greats and you're there so close but you feel like there's enough people surrounding them already. I saw Maldini and I wanted to go there and greet him, but couldn't. Also Pirlo, who were on stage. We feel like kids there, because those names made my childhood, they're all idols, not only the goalkeepers, but also the outfield players - which I was very familiar while playing Football Manager, FIFA and PES. To see them made everything even more of a honour for me.
Q: Klopp won as the best manager. Is it special for you to see all his work and also Liverpool being recognized in those awards? Also Van Dijk, who was nominated.
When you win the Champions League, it's obvious that some players will be recognized in the awards. I believe there should have been more Liverpool players in the best XI, but those who won also deserved. I was very happy for Klopp, not only for the award and for being a great manager, but also because he's a great person that everyone adores. You guys from the press know he's a simple man, very passionate about football and life. He showed his huge heart while announcing he joined the Common Goal charity on stage - to promote a social action that helps people - it shows great nobility. I'm very happy for him.
About Van Dijk, he certainly could've won it, but when you're up against Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, it's a bit unfair because people also take in consideration their whole careers and those two are amazing. I believe Messi has done enough to win it - the difference were the titles, Van Dijk won the CL, while Messi won the league and we didn't. Cristiano won a international title, I believe that's why he was among the finalists. He has merit.
For me, either Virgil or Messi would be the correct decision but I was hoping Van Dijk would win because of the player and the person he is. Just like the goalkeeper award, anyone of those would be a fair winner.
Q: How's your work with Jurgen Klopp? How has he helped you improve as an athlete?
A: Klopp, besides understanding football so much, he also knows how to deal with people in a way that I had never seen before - maybe also Tite is a bit like him in dealing with people.
He can communicate with everyone and that's a fundamental part of football. Not only talking, but also with gestures. Sometimes with a face gesture he can communicate more than with a couple of sentences. He's very expressive. My involvement with him is more outside the pitch, in the dressing room, he's very specific and the training sessions are very intense but also very clear, with a clear objective, which is what he thinks it's best for the upcoming game.
The fact that the team is so tight and we know each other so well also favours him. This is the value of our team. If you take a player out of our team, they are for certain going to play well in other teams, but he may not play the same way, because we created a clear style, we know where everyone is gonna be, we run together, we know how each one likes to receive the ball - that's also Klopp's merit, he formed this team and I came here last year and could be part of a winning season. That helped a lot, not only Jurgen but Also John and Jack the goalkeeper coaches.
Q: Talking about your development this past season, why do you think you fit in so well with Liverpool and the Premier League?
A: The decision-making is very important in the athletes' careers, specially when it comes to transfers. It was a delicate moment to leave Roma because I was playing very well, but I came to the conclusion I wouldn't improve much further there. We then made the decision to accept the transfer, also because the Premier League is a very attractive competition, for its competitiveness, quality, organization, clubs, history. It's basically like the Champions League, there are six big clubs to face, also other smaller, but very traditional clubs here in England, which is a beautiful spectacle, but also a very tough one.
I analysed everything with my staff and my manager before making any decision - the club's stability, the potential, the way the team plays, which fits my style, as I like playing with a high line, participating in the play. That's why it matched so well - me, Liverpool and the Premier League.
We haven't achieved what we wanted yet in the league, but this season we have the same chances as last season, it's up to us to seize the opportunities.
Q: Inter's Alisson, Roma's Alisson and Liverpool's Alisson. Do you see many differences?
A: No, not many. Obviously I'm more mature now. What's changed are the things outside football, I'm a family man now. Inside the pitch it's always been the same - my dedication, hard word have always been there. That's important for a high level player, to be there even in the periods when I'm not playing.
My first year at Roma wasn't easy, it was different from my arrival at Liverpool, as I was already well known in Europe, having had a great season the year before. From Inter to Roma, I suffered a bit, the first season I played less than I would've liked, but I improved a lot nonetheless. Today the difference is in my mind, but I still enjoy it as much as I did before, in the beginning. The responsibilities and expectations grew, but I'm also much more prepared and mature than at Inter.
Q:A lot of great things happened in your career last year, but also in your personal life, you had your second child. It was a full year for you.
A: Absolutely, children are a blessing, certainly even better than receiving trophies. I had the pleasure to be present at child-birth, Matteo came to bring even more happiness to our family. It was a very special year, we can feel the love of God in our family.
Q: Helena (his daughter) says your awards are for her.
A:When I go to these awards, I have to leave her at home and I always say that I'm going to collect an award for her, so she doesn't get upset. She loves it.
Q: How's your day-to-day here, with your wife. You travel a lot, and I suppose you like to enjoy your time at home with them.
A: Absolutely, Natalia [his wife] sometimes gets angry at me because when I have some days off, which is rare, she wants to travel, do something fun and I always prefer to stay at home, play with the kids, we have a house that is big enough for us to enjoy. We're very simple people, we don't need much to be happy, only the family around. The weather doesn't help much to go out but we always find a way to have fun and I try to be present with my daughter. These weeks I've been injured, I enjoyed being at home alongside her, we bonded even stronger than before. Now she cries when I leave home, but it's important for a child to feel loved and to be accompanied by their father. Sometimes life's too rushed and we don't pay much attention to our children, but in the future, they end up suffering because of our decisions - instead of reading a book or watching tv, it's better to play with them (while also taking care of ourselves). My wife and I try the best to have a good relationship and that hopefully will reflect to our children. Family means everything to us, family means everything to me. It's what's most precious in life - I dedicate everything to them.
Q: How's the injury? How's the anxiety to come back?
A: The anxiety is big right now. We are at the final stages, I'm doing the normal GK training. Next week I'll be with the team, but it takes a while to get back with the rhythm. It was a long process, a serious injury. The initial time was 4-6 weeks, then 6-8 and now the medics said 8-10. It's has been 7 weeks now and I feel confident, we have to take the time, I don't want to rush and not be 100%. If I feel well next week, I'll be very close to play already. There's also the Fifa dates which we'll use to train. There's a downside but also a good side, as I can prepare for the rest of the season, which is long.
Q:You're certainly following Liverpool. We're seeing a strong start, it seems that the team is even more mature than last year. How do you see the team's development and what do you think you can achieve this season?
A: We've done something hard which is to start the season playing high level, maybe not as high as the last games last season, but we won important games, like Chelsea away, which is fundamental for a team that wants to be champions. We achieve that with our way of play and consistency and that's the difference from a team that only plays for the result. We have our style and we're improving with the way we adapt to each match, and that's what we suffered a bit last year. Even if we had a winning season, we had things to improve and I believe we're achieving it and there's even more. That's what makes our team happy, we see that we can improve, and we see where we can go.
If they asked me at the beginning of last season if we were going to win the Champions League , I would say the same - I don't know, it depends on what we do inside the pitch. We're going to keep improving and we're in the right path to achieve big things.
Quick questions
Q:Who is your best mate at Liverpool?
A: My two best mates are Firmino and Fabinho. We're always together in training and also outside the ground. We try to unite our families so we can spend a lot of time together.
Q: Who's the leader among the players?
A: Henderson, he's the captain. He pushes the team when it's needed and even when it's not (laughs).
Q: Who's the shyest?
A: Fabinho.
Q: Who's the funniest?
A: Wijnaldum. Inside the dressing room he's very funny and playful with everyone.
Q: Who's the most talkative?
A: Robbo! For sure.
Q:Your English is very good then, if you understand his Scottish accent.
A: I said he's talkative, I didn't say I understand everything he says (laughs). Most things I don't.
Q: The most stylish?
A: Well, I like my style. But Bobby is the king of style.
Q: Who's the angriest?
A: I think the one who gets more irritated, with an angry face is Milner, for sure. He's a very serious guy.
Q: Define Jurgen Klopp in one word.
A: Passionate.
Q: A Klopp's speech that impressed you the most?
All his analysis and speeches are very good, he does it very well, also quickly. It motivates you so much when you need it. He can relieve the pressure through his speeches. One in particular that I'll remember forever was the day before the Barcelona game at home. He said something like: 'we have nothing to lose, so choose which story you want to tell your children and grandchildren'. This shows the belief he has on his work and his team.
Q: A game?
A: Barcelona at home (laughs).
Q: A save?
A:The save against Napoli in the Champions League, which was one of the most importants that season. I love saves that really help the team, doesn't matter if it's a beautiful or an ugly one.
Q: A definition of Liverpool, as a team, as a club, as the city you live.
A: It's a extremely positive place. There's a phrase that Pep Lijnders uses: 'our intensity is our indentity'. It's a very intense team inside the pitch and we can bring that intensity in our relationships, the day-to-day life and the trainings, which is very important. You can only be a winner if you prepare yourself to win.
