Dudek interview on offal

[£440,000]

I especially like this bit:

 

Have you spoken with Shevchenko since that moment?

 

Yes. I?ve spoken to Andrei twice and spoke to Jon Dahl Tomasson right after the game. I saw their faces and I said to them ?you don?t have to worry about it because you won it last year. We didn?t and we need it much more than you need it.? In the end it?s a big frustration for them but somebody needs to be the loser and somebody has to win, it was just fantastic to be on the winning side but you do have to think about them. Saying that, they won it the previous year against Juventus in Manchester, Shevchenko took the last penalty and beat the goalkeeper but he couldn?t beat me and that?s what gave us the glory. I think we all understand that and this is fantastic. I remember Tomasson?s face after it, he wanted to punch me. We played together for 4 years and he couldn?t believe that he?d lost. That was great, really fantastic.

[McBain]

They played for Porto?

 

Glad Jerzy is getting a game. I hope wherever he ends up he regains his old form

[Kindred]

It was interesting that Rafa wants him for an extra year. Possibly means that Carsons out on loan again next season.

[cymrococh]

When was the last time someone stopped you in the street to talk about Istanbul?

 

To be honest every time I go out everyone is asking me about the final. They all have their own point of view and opinions about the game. Every time I go out in Liverpool or Manchester it still happens and they still ask ?how was it in Istanbul?? It still stays with them which is good.

 

If you had to pick one highlight from the whole Istanbul experience what would you choose?

 

When we came out of the tunnel to play the second half it was the greatest moment of my life. When I came out we were losing 3-0. I can still feel it when all the people were standing up and singing ?You?ll Never Walk Alone?. I said to myself this is incredible, we?re losing 3-0, second half to play, walking out of the tunnel and these people are still singing. It was unbelievable. It was the most fantastic moment to me. I don?t want to mention any particular saves because this was something I had never experienced in my life.

 

That was the team of 2005 and obviously a new team is forming now. Do you keep in touch with any of the players who have since left the club?

 

Yes, especially with the Czech players. I spoke to Vladi when we played away at Bordeaux and I speak with Milan Baros. I?m still in touch with Igor and Didi still lives where I live, in my village. So, yes, we still keep in touch. It was a fantastic achievement with a fantastic group of players. We still have a fantastic group of players with a good spirit.

 

Changing the subject, have you got back all the things that were stolen from your house not so long back?

 

Yes and I have to say thank you to all of the Liverpool supporters because I have spoken to the chief of Merseyside Police and asked them how they found my stuff and they said people have called in giving directions to where it could be and because of them I?ve had the chance to get it back. I?m still missing a couple of things but the most important items like medals and shirts have been returned. I thought I had lost them forever.

 

If you hadn?t been a footballer, what would you have done for a living?

 

I was preparing myself to be a coal miner. I live in a place where everyone is working in a coal mine. My father worked in coal mines for almost 35 years and I was almost ready. I was practicing underground twice a week and then when I was 18, I got the opportunity to sign for a semi-professional contract in a third division club in Poland. It was very fortunate because I was ready to take my place under the ground like my father and grandpa, there was nothing else to do so I was ready to do it.

 

What other hobbies do you have away from football?

 

My family are my hobbies now. When I was away with the national team, straight after the Champions League final my wife phoned me and said ?May was a very lucky month for you? and I said ?I know, I know?. She said it wasn?t only because you won the Champions League but because I?m pregnant. My little daughter is 10 months old now, I called her Victoria because of the Champions League final and I spend all of my time with them now. To say hobby is not quite right but I spend every single second with my son and daughter.

 

Finally, what are your football ambitions for the rest of your career?

 

They always say you have to play football for as long as you can but that depends if you are injury free. If I am, I can easily play for six or 7 more years so I just want to play as much football as I can. Right now I have to wait for a first team opportunity but when I get it I will use it to my advantage and use my experience. The Champions League final gave me and the other players lots of confidence and you can see this on the pitch. It helps a lot to achieve something.

 

Comes across as a cracking lad.

Edited December 5, 2006 by Paul Caruso