FOOTBALL ENGLAND LIVERPOOL L'UNION DU SPORT EXCLUSIVE (PART 1)
Tuesday, 4th of November 2014
In football terms, Liverpool FC was in the 70's and 80's what Phil Taylor is in darts nowadays: record-breaking and history making. The Reds had literally crushed all the other English teams during that period to reach eleven League titles and four European Cups between 1972 and 1990. Since their creation in 1892, LFC evolved to one of the most popular teams in the world. In an exclusive interview with L'Union du Sport, Yvan Whomsley, a true Liverpool supporter, answers our questions about his personal experiences at Liverpool games, explains the story behind his Liverpool tattoo and reveals his thoughts on Gareth Bale and the Wales national football team.
STRASBOURG (France), 4th November 2014. - He followed the tradition: Yvan Whomsley. (Photo Brice Lecouey/ L'Union du Sport)
L'UNION DU SPORT Yvan, you are Welsh and you lived in Newcastle for two years. Why do you support Liverpool?
I support Liverpool because... or I should say thanks to my dad. He was born in Mold (Wales), next to Wrexham. And the only team you could support was Wrexham, which
is not a very good team in Wales, so he supported Liverpool. So did my granddad, my grandma, my uncle, my aunt. Everyone
supports Liverpool. I had to follow the tradition.
Let's come back to Liverpool's last season. After 24 years without winning a League title, they had a big opportunity to win the BPL last season. How have you lived the fact that Liverpool only finished second, two points behind Manchester City?
If you come back to the start of the season, Liverpool never expected to win the Premier League. Their objective was to finish in the top four. We managed to do that within the last ten games of the season, so the objective was met, we did what we wanted to do. I think we overachieved, we overplayed, we played that well that we could compete for the title. Of course, I was sad at the time when we lost to Chelsea and then drew to Crystal Palace because we should have, and I thought we deserved to win the title. But if you come back as a whole, it was a great season and to finish second, in front of Chelsea, Arsenal and only second to Manchester City, who have a lot of money, was a great achievement, overall.
Would you describe the Champions League win in 2005 as your greatest moment as a Liverpool fan?
Yes, definitely! I was only a kid, well I was twelve years old. I remember when we were 3-0 down at half-time: I was nearly crying and I couldn't watch it. Then, I
turned the TV back "on" and I saw the Liverpool supporters singing You'll Never Walk Alone. I began to believe in the team and to get behind them. We really had to show a different side
of our football and at least put on a good performance and win the second half. But we did more than that. We came back to 3-3, it was a miracle. "Miracle in Istanbul", that's how we call it. And
then we won it for the 5th time, on 25th May 2005 and Steven Gerrard was 25 years old. It was a miracle, but I think it was destiny as well.
You saw the 2-1 win over Middlesbrough in 2008 at Anfield. Steven Gerrard scored the second goal in the last seconds of the game. Does it make this victory even more special?
It was special. It was only my second time at Anfield and I went with my dad and my brother. We actually missed the opening ten
minutes because of the plane. It wasn't the best game ever, Liverpool didn't play that well and they were 1-0 down to Middlesbrough. Mido, the Egyptian forward scored the goal. And then, of all
players, Jamie Carragher scored the equalising goal in the 85th minute. The crowd got excited and we all expected a winner. Of course, the winner came from
our "captain fantastic" Steven Gerrard. He scored a great goal and yes, it was extra special because it was him. He's "Mr Liverpool", he represents what
Liverpool is all about. I remember celebrating the goal with my dad, I actually broke his watch while I celebrated the goal, which was quite funny.
What were your first thoughts when you saw that Liverpool signed Mario Balotelli?
It's a tough one... (laughs) I've got to say I was a bit excited, but a bit surprised as well. We'd lost Luis Suarez, for me the best player Liverpool had, even
better than Steven Gerrard. He had the most goals, the most assists. I was disappointed to see him leave, but at the same time relieved because he was a weird
character... He bit people, so I think that he didn't represent the club and the team as well as he should. Liverpool should always have a good image and he
was not good for the image of the club. We never really replaced Luis Suarez, but at the same time you can't replace him. For me, Balotelli was never a
replacement, he was just another "option". He "only" cost £16 million. In football terms, that's not a lot. It was a bargain. I was excited to see him come
and see what he could do. I was behind him from the first whistle because that's what you do when you're a Liverpool fan: you support every Liverpool player.
You went to Switzerland last October to support Liverpool in their Champions League game against Basel. How was your evening at St. Jakob-Park?
It was a good evening. It was the first time I saw a Champions League game. For it to be Liverpool was extra special. I was always worried about the game because Liverpool were not in good form. But it was a great experience: just to see them, to be around the stadium, to listen to the Champions League song, to see all the Liverpool supporters, to feel the Champions League atmosphere. It was a good atmosphere even if it was sad that they lost, but I was kind of expecting it. Good night, good experience, but frustrated with the loss.
Your love for Liverpool goes under the skin. You have a tattoo with the words You'll Never Walk Alone on your left arm. What does this anthem
represent to you?
It represents a lot, more than football, to be honest. I had it done in November 2012. It was a period of my life where it was quite difficult for me, I had difficult times. You'll Never Walk Alone represents two things: first of all, it's the song of Liverpool, so obviously I'm a big fan. And secondly, the meaning of the words matter a lot. You'll Never Walk Alone means that you'll always have friends for you, family for you. And at that time it was really important for me. It was kind of those two reasons that made me put ink on my arm.
You know you're a true football fan when you know this song. (Photo Brice Lecouey/ L'Union du Sport)
What do you think about Man United?
I'm not a big fan of Manchester United. I wouldn't say that I despise them or hate them as much as Liverpool supporters in Liverpool would because I don't live in Liverpool, so I don't get that same rivalry and that same hatred. But it's not a team that I like, not really, no...
Which game is more important for you: the Merseyside derby against Everton, or the north-west derby against the Red Devils?
Personally, I don't have any affection, relation or hatred towards Everton because I don't live in Liverpool. Everton is a big game, but it's not as big as Manchester United, for me. They're a bigger team than Everton, so if you play against Man United and you win against Man United, it means that you can compete for the title. Maybe not this year and last year, they weren't playing as well. But normally, if you beat Manchester United, it's a better achievement. If I came from Liverpool and if I lived in Liverpool, I would say Everton, of course.
How would you describe the atmosphere at Anfield?
Amazing, magical, electric, vibrant, magnificent... There are always people shouting, celebrating. They call it the 12th man in Liverpool. It helps you, supports you in the bad times and in the good times. We've got the best atmosphere in England, for sure. And maybe one of the best atmospheres in Europe as well.
Why would you recommend to watch Liverpool play at Anfield at least once in your life?
I would recommend to watch Liverpool play at Anfield at least once in your life because, as I said, it's a pretty unique atmosphere. It's quite a small stadium for
such a big club: 45,000 supporters. It's quite compact, you feel all together, a bit squashed. You should definitely go to Anfield!
Do you have a favourite Liverpool player?
Yes! My favourite player at Liverpool is Steven Gerrard, like most of the Liverpool supporters. I said before Luis Suarez was the best player I've ever seen. But
Steven Gerrard has been at Liverpool since he was eight years old, he's been the captain of the club for so many years, he represents Liverpool, he's a Scouser (he was born in Whiston: East of
Liverpool, about ten kilometres away from Liverpool city centre, Editor's note), he's never left Liverpool. He could have left to go to Real Madrid, to Chelsea, he had the chance to play for any
top club in the world. However, he chose to stay with Liverpool. He's a role model and he's a great player, of course. When he was twenty-eight or
twenty-nine, in his prime, he was one of the best central midfielder in the world. Maybe not now, he's a bit old... But he's still a fantastic player!
Let's finish the interview with two questions about Welsh football. Do you think that Gareth Bale could be considered as the "Welsh Zidane"?
(thinks hard) I think Gareth Bale is definitely the best Welsh player, that's for sure. He's the best player that Wales have had for a long time. Ryan Giggs was a
great player, but I think Gareth Bale will eventually be better. But the "Welsh Zidane"? I'm not too sure... Zidane was more technically gifted, he was an artist, a magician. He was, for me, one
of the best players in the world. Gareth Bale is more about physique: he is strong, he is fast, he scores goals, but he is not as classy and technically gifted as Zidane. The comparison with
Zidane, no. But the best player in Wales, for sure.
How do you feel when there is a World Cup, but Wales never qualify?
That's a funny question. I've never really supported Wales as a national team because they've never qualified. I've never seen them in a big competition, so I can't say "I support them." I actually support England and France in football because they are always at the big competitions. I hope that one day Wales qualify. They have good players: Gareth Bale of course, Aaron Ramsey from Arsenal, Joe Allen from Liverpool and a couple of young players coming through as well. They are doing well, I hope they will qualify for the Euro in France and that will give me a chance to go and see maybe France against Wales.
Yvan, thank you very much!
No problem, pleasure!
The second part of the interview in French will be available soon...
MICHAEL GHERARDI
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