In the hotel pre-match
“I just try to relax. If I’m staying at home the night before the game, I will wake up early, have some breakfast and enjoy the time with my kids, but not too much because I don’t want to get tired! If I’m at the hotel, I would facetime my kids, watch some Netflix, and sleep. I like to sleep before the games.”
Pre-match meal
“I usually eat pasta or some carbs. Last year we had a chef with us in the hotel, who would cook us carbonara with prawns, which was really nice.”
The coach journey in
“I usually sit on my own, but I have Rayan [Ait-Nouri] behind my back, I have Ki [Hoever] on my right and Raul [Jimenez] in front of me, but there’s nobody next to me. I asked if somebody wanted to sit next to me, but nobody did!”
Pre-match emotions
“I’m usually excited and sometimes I get nervous, but they are good nerves, which get you ready for the game to come, but that’s a good feeling.”
Meeting the opposition
“No, because normally I don’t go outside to see the pitch. I usually just stay inside the dressing room to get prepared for the game, so I don’t go out and speak to anyone.”
In the dressing room
“It’s different if we are playing at home or away, but when we are away, we go by numbers, so being 22 I was next to Saiss and Moutinho.”
Pre-match music
“I listen to Travis Scott almost every time. I really like him and he gets me motivated, but sometimes I listen to music from my own country as well, and that’s the kind of music I like.”
Rituals before the game
“I have my routines. I like to warm up in the gym before I go outside, I also make the sign of the cross because I’m a Christian and my mum always told me to do that before the games to get some protection.”
The teams are in
“Of course, I take a look at their team. It’s important to see if you are playing against players who use their left foot or their right foot because that changes the way you’re going to defend him, so if he goes one side or he goes the other, this is important. Even players I know I’m not going to be against or going to face on the pitch, I like to see who is playing.”
In the tunnel
“I’m just focused and looking forward to beginning the game.”
