LIVING

Many people will envy you. What is the best thing about your work?
The best thing is that I get paid to watch football whilst living in Spain. That is brilliant! I also get to see a side of football that many people don’t. For example, what the game is really like behind the scenes, and especially what footballers are really like, beyond what people see in the media.
 

And what are footballers really like?
Mostly they are not massively interesting, but I don’t really blame them because we don't tend to ask them the most interesting questions. It’s rare that you get to talk to a footballer beyond the normal clichés. I did something with Oleguer (the FC Barcelona defender) where I asked him about his much publicised views on politics. He spoke about his Catalanism, his views on the laws in this country and some of his political worries, which, I think, was interesting for him and it certainly was for me.
 

And the worst thing about your job?
Time. My girlfriend would tell you that I never have a weekend, and therefore neither does she. Also, when I come to cities like Barcelona to watch a game, I fly in, go to the hotel, then straight to the game, and then back to Madrid. I don’t get to see cities as much as I’d like.
 

Do you support the much vaunted claim that the Spanish league is the best in the world?
No. At the moment I think it’s a big myth. The equality of the top four teams is based on mediocrity. However, in terms of quality, style and class Spain is better than England.
 

Is there a difference between fans in Spain and England?
Every English fan who has come out here to see a big game at the Camp Nou or the Bernabéu has been disappointed. Other teams are okay, but at Madrid and Barcelona, the atmosphere is dull. In England the fans try to help the team play well, but in Spain the fans expect the team to help them support well.