Jan Oblak is nominated for the award The Best the best goalkeeper in the world together with Alisson (Liverpool) and Neuer (Bayern). The Atlético goalkeeper, who is having a great start to the season, has granted an interview for FIFA where he talks about his beginnings, his career, his time as rojiblanco …
—The 'miracle' of Slovenia.
—We have very good athletes both in individual and collective sports. We have always had great basketball players, also footballers who have stood out… I think it is because we really like sports and because of our mentality. We are quite cold in the head and that is very good for sports.
—How did you start in soccer?
—I played many sports when I was little, but soccer was always my priority. My father played, although not as a professional. He was a goalkeeper and I imitated him and wanted to be like him. That's why I also wanted to be a goalkeeper since I was little. At the beginning I played a game as a striker, but I always wanted to stay in goal. I still love sports like basketball, tennis… I play them and I like to watch them too. Before I became a professional I also skied a lot.
“Idols of childhood.”
—When I saw matches of the greats of Europe I would pay attention to the goalkeepers. And since the form of a player is not always the same every year, maybe one year I liked Buffon, another year Casillas, Schmeichel, Dida… Everyone I admired, but my first idol was my father.
Was being the best goalkeeper in the world your dream?
—When I was little you couldn't see so much international football, so my first dream was to play for the club where I trained. Then you progress, fulfilling dreams and new ones arrive. When I saw that I could become a professional and play at a high level, I began to dream of being the best and winning all possible titles. It's what you train for every day.
–The Best to the best goalkeeper.
—People look at who scores the goal and not who stops it. There are great goalkeepers who have never been recognized as the best. And in the end, on the field, we are all the same: some have to score and others to stop, so it is good to have an award for goalkeepers. Thus, a goalkeeper can be recognized not only with that 'how well he plays', but when the prizes arrive, he can also win. It's good for football, for us and for the fans.
Angel Martinez (Getty Images)
—Nominated with Alisson, Courtois, Keylor Navas, Neuer and Ter Stegen. What would it mean to win it?
“It would be very nice.” Being nominated already shows that you are on the right track. They are individual awards, but they go hand in hand with collective achievements. In the end, the goalkeeper and the player with the best chance of winning the The Best They are the ones who have won the Champions League, their league… Winning collective titles is what gives you the most options to win these individual awards. We didn't get it last year, but I'm happy to be nominated. Winning would be something spectacular both for me and for Atleti, because the goalkeeper does not play alone and the team has to help you so that you can be nominated and win.
—Your favorite stop: Leverkusen (2017)?
—Surely that triple stop is the one that is most talked about when my name comes out, and probably many years from now it will continue to appear on television or the Internet, but I'm not a person who fixes on a specific stop. Each one is important because you avoid a goal (laughs) Also many times it happens that there are stops that seem easy, but you, who are in the goal, know that this is more complicated than some other stretched one that is very beautiful for the photo. It has to do with placement.
“His best quality.”
Placement is one of the most important. If you are always or try to be in the right place, it is easier and you have less work. Then each team plays in one way, each coach asks his goalkeeper something and in the end you do what the coach asks of you. If he asks you to play with your feet, you will play with your feet, if he asks you to serve long, you will do it… But of my qualities, surely one of the good things is placement.
“Is he one of those who talks a lot to his colleagues or only on specific occasions?”
I am quite aware and I speak a lot during the games. It's not that I'm the 'smart one' at the back who sees things better than anyone (laughs), but I try to help, especially the centrals, full-backs and defensive midfielders. Sometimes I see open spaces that they think are closed, or they don't see what they have behind them and I do … The more you talk and communicate in the field the easier it is for everyone, so we help each other.
“I cannot choose a title, I would like to win all of them. We have been close to the Champions League and I have the dream of winning it. In La Liga we are on the right track, but there is still a lot …”
—To for the fifth Zamora …
—I don't pay attention to numbers, because things can change very quickly and suddenly he concedes several goals in several games in a row. Rather than looking at that award, I try to concede as few goals as possible, because it gives us a better chance of winning.
– League or Champions?
I cannot choose one, because I would like to win all. It's very complicated, because we play in a League where there are great teams, and the same in the Champions League… We have been close to the Champions League, we haven't achieved it and I have faith and the dream of being able to win it, but I don't have a favorite title. While I'm at Atleti I'm going to try to win everything I play, and hopefully this year we can win something. In La Liga we are on the right track, but there is a lot left. We must continue in this line.
—Idol for the Atlético fans.
—At the beginning, when I arrived, they were hard months, but when I started playing as a starter I always felt the affection of the people and now I miss them a lot on the field. I know that people value me and I am here to help Atleti. A footballer never knows how long he's going to stay at a club, but I've been here for 7 years and so far everything has gone well. Everything is easier when the fans love you, because it gives you confidence and helps you get the best of yourself.
—The challenge of Slovenia.
—When I was little I saw Slovenia at the 2002 World Cup, also at Euro 2000, and later at the 2010 World Cup. And when you see how happy the people were … I would love to bring that happiness back to the country. And not just for them. For me, playing a World Cup or a European Championship would be a dream; a childhood dream that I would like to fulfill and I will do everything I can to achieve it.