Mile Svilar speaks. The Giallorossi goalkeeper gave an interview to UEFA microphones which was broadcast in the Europa League & Conference League Preview Show. The former Benfica player discussed various topics: from the relationship with his father, to that with De Rossi, and then talking about the emotions he experienced after the penalties against Feyenoord. Below are his words.
About Father Ratko.
“I know he was a great goalkeeper, he spent a long time at Antwerp, at the time he played in the UEFA Cup. Today he is very important, he helps me, he sees things that I don’t realize I’m doing and he tells me. 80% of what I learned comes from him, he has always been involved in my life and still is today.”
On the role of goalkeeper.
“There are emotions and thoughts that are difficult to experience, for example, in midfield. For a goalkeeper the mental aspect is very important, the more you grow the more you fall in love with the role, because you also grow from a psychological point of view. When you plays for a great team, the action is sometimes far away, but in these cases the goalkeeper must maintain high concentration and must not be caught unprepared.”
On penalties against Feyenoord.
“I still have goosebumps. When something like that happens you understand why you worked hard for so many years and why it was worth it. They are fantastic moments, no one will ever be able to take them away from me, I will remember them forever. They leave you wanting something more, I want to do more.”
On De Rossi.
“He still has a great fire burning inside him, which must be why he can talk so easily with us. It’s like when he played football, and this is a great advantage for him and for us. I was really impressed by how much he and his staff were prepared. From day one his intentions were very clear. He was born to be a footballer, but also to be a coach and he is truly impressive.”
