Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, higher referred to as Kaka, has swapped his soccer boots for trainers forward of a marathon in Berlin this weekend, however he’s already trying past that to the World Cup.
Kaka has been making ready for the race for 3 years and can take it on alongside his brother Rodrigo.
He spoke to MARCA completely in Berlin earlier than the marathon happened on Sunday morning.
Query: The primary is an nearly apparent query: Why does he run?
A: I at all times appreciated teaching and after I left skilled soccer I continued to do it however the fact is that I now not had a objective. It was after speaking to some folks in Brazil that I made a decision to run a marathon.
Q. Will there be different marathons after this debut?
I do not know. What I wish to do is end this primary one after which we’ll see as a result of the final two months of coaching have been very exhausting.
Q. What’s the distinction between enjoying a Champions League match and operating a marathon?
The strain is totally different so the sensations are totally different. While you play soccer as knowledgeable there are lots of people taking a look at you with big expectations whereas right here it is all about how I really feel.
If I end in three hours and 40 minutes this Sunday it will likely be high-quality but when I run quicker or slower, that is high-quality too.
Q. Actual Madrid have 9 wins in 9 video games, what have you ever fabricated from the workforce initially of the season?
Actually implausible. However I do not simply have a look at the event of the gamers, I additionally focus rather a lot on Carlo Ancelotti who has developed admirably as a coach.
Q. Casemiro left and Aurelien Tchouameni arrived…
I like this participant as a result of he’s very younger however he has a terrific character and is enjoying very effectively. I’ve to confess that I had doubts as a result of Casemiro was a really skilled participant and each Tchouameni and Camavinga have little expertise however they’re dealing with the strain of enjoying for Actual Madrid admirably.
Q. Can anybody argue with Karim Benzema for the Ballon d’Or this 12 months?
I feel he’s a robust favorite, though you’ll be able to by no means say 100% that he’ll win it. Karim is now a really full participant and the award could be effectively deserved.
Kak con la ropa oficial del Maratn de Berln en el Adidas Sport Base de la capital alemana. Fotos: Vanessa Corts
Q. Is Neymar nonetheless the star of Brazil or do you suppose Vinicius can rival him for that throne?
Neymar goes to be Brazil’s chief in Qatar 2022 however it’s essential that he has gamers like Vinicius by his aspect. Within the 2018 World Cup, Ney was absolutely the protagonist however now we’ve Vini, Raphinha, Richarlison, Antony… who will not be younger guarantees however actually good gamers.
Vinicius, for instance, is a star at Actual Madrid and scored the objective within the final Champions League closing. This takes a little bit of strain off Neymar, which may be very beneficial to our pursuits.
Q. Rodrygo has grown exponentially as a footballer within the final 12 months, what do you consider him?
Properly, he’s phenomenal. It’s nonetheless being mentioned in Brazil if he ought to go to the World Cup and I’m clear that he needs to be on the listing.
I personally went to the World Cup after I was 20 years previous and had not but left Brazil, whereas he’s already a star in Actual Madrid. It is also an expertise that shall be superb for his skilled progress.
Q. What’s your greatest reminiscence of Actual Madrid? I am not speaking about profitable a trophy, I am speaking a couple of particular reminiscence, a second.
It could sound unusual, however I keep in mind the day that I left, as a result of I spoke with Florentino and he instructed me that they noticed me as a terrific skilled who had completed all the things attainable to attain nice leads to Madrid, however accidents and the couple of minutes that the coach gave me didn’t permit it.
That was a terrific satisfaction as a result of I felt that the doorways of the membership had been open to me. That is why you may by no means hear me converse badly of Actual Madrid or Jose Mourinho. In reality, after I met Florentino on the Champions League closing in Paris earlier this 12 months, we embraced.
Q. In your coronary heart of hearts, what did you take pleasure in extra this 12 months, the Scudetto for AC Milan or LaLiga and Champions League for Actual Madrid?
That is query. Milan returned to the limelight in Italy after a few years and that was phenomenal however the closing in Paris I skilled it stay in Paris and to see Actual Madrid win a Champions League in that manner… The reality is that I can not make up my thoughts.
Q. South America hasn’t gained a World Cup since Brazil in 2002, which you had been a part of. Are you able to or Argentina break that streak this 12 months?
I hope so, however European soccer is superb. We even have a handicap and that’s that with the delivery of the UEFA Nations League we will now not play friendlies in opposition to the large groups of Europe and that makes us much less aggressive as a result of in South America, Brazil wins nearly each sport.
That makes it tougher to develop as a nationwide workforce, though it is true that each groups are doing very effectively on the World Cup and have nice gamers.
I actually like this Argentina workforce, they’re very mature and have a terrific coach. In brief, each Brazil and Argentina have a terrific likelihood of profitable this World Cup.
Q. Which groups can stand as much as Brazil and Argentina in Qatar?
Above all France, who’re the large rivals as a result of they’ve implausible gamers and are the reigning champions, though Spain and Germany are additionally nice rivals.
Then we’ve to control Portugal, who’ve workforce, though we’ve to attend and see how Cristiano will get there. After which there’s Belgium, after all, who often fail in the long run regardless of having a terrific workforce.
Q. How do you see Luis Enrique’s Spain, and is there a participant you significantly like?
Spain have an excellent workforce with nice gamers, despite the fact that they’re very younger.
Luis Enrique appears to me to be a really artistic coach and I like Gavi rather a lot. Pedri additionally has a vivid future forward of him though I’ve a particular affection for Alvaro Morata as a result of I noticed him turn out to be knowledgeable.