Practice Makes Perfect #JustWriteIt #Sports #Alexis Sanchez

Chapter One

Here I stood flashing a teeny smile at the paparazzi. Sitting before me is the famous news anchor, Bob Woodruff. I never thought I would be sitting here one day. When everyone used to sleep, I was awake. I worked hard and became the "Foot ball King". My thoughts were interrupted when Bob started talking, and it signaled that the interview has started.

"Hello once again. Today, I Bob Woodruff present to you, "The Football King"; Alejandro Matias", said Bob. Cheers erupted in the studio and I smiled at the audience. Bod turned to me, "First of all, let me extend a warm welcome to you. It is an honor that you joined us here today", I simply smiled at him as an act of gratitude. "Alejandro please share your experience of being loved by so many people", he continued. I looked up at him and answered, "I don't know if there are words that can convey this:  One feels protected, cherished, elated, alive", I paused and remembered the old memories. "And as much as they love me, I love them twice as they do", I finished, earning an applaud from the audience.

"A penny for your thoughts", Bod said and everyone laughed, including me. "Alejandro, despite your youth, you already have an extensive curriculum, and you've played in both South America and Europe, although you started in the Chilean team Cobreloa. When and how did you start playing football?"

"From an early age I liked football and I started with my friends in the neighbourhood, before we even had grass pitches: they were pure dirt pitches, and we got used to playing on them."

"What do you remember about your first games with Cobreloa, where you debuted as a player?"
"I played with older players, all my life I grew up playing with older kids. Sometimes I played up front, although I was very young, and they always kicked me. They kicked me because they couldn't stop me and it motivated me even more."

"Did you also watch matches on television, when you were little?"
"I only played football, and didn't watch matches on television. I enjoyed playing, I didn't like watching football matches. I just liked to play, and and that they might watch me".

"What time do you remember as one of the happiest of your childhood?"
"I think it's when I told my family that I wanted to be a professional football player, and I ended up realising that dream."

"Where do you think you've learned most as a player?"
"I think I've learned most playing in the street and the neighbourhood games, as in South America a lot of football is played like that. Other than that, I think that both championships and trips also teach you a lot".

"Why did you start playing football and decide this was the sport for you?"
"Every time I started a game of football I forgot all my problems and I enjoyed myself with my teammates on the pitch".

"At 22, you can already say you've played for five different clubs: Cobreloa, Colo-Colo, River Plate and, in Europe, Udinese, and now FC Barcelona. How would you describe your evolution in the world of football?"
"I always said: "I have to take it step by step" and, until today, it's been the case. I never move directly from a small team to a bigger one. I always had to fight for my place in the side and finally get to go to a great team as I have done now, to Barcelona."

"How do you compare football now that you're a professional player, to when you played as a child?"
"I always think of football as a game, but never forgetting that it entails responsibility. I love to take more responsibility, although I'm still the same player as when I was five or ten years old, I'm still enjoying myself on the pitch".

"Having always played in South America, you got the offer to come to Europe in 2007. Despite your youth, you accepted the challenge. It must have been a great challenge for you..."
"I like to dare myself to do difficult things, and I decided to come here because I thought that if everyone thought that it was so difficult, I wanted to fight so that it would become easier for me and I might enjoy myself. Thanks to this I had a good championship."

"In fact, you have had good championships and this has propelled you towards big clubs. What do you think has been the key to your professional success?"
"I think I always had faith that I would get to a big club, be one of the best and win championships with whichever club I may be at".

"Just lately you've been at the Copa America, with Chile and Marcelo Bielsa. What has he taught you about the world of football?"
"I think I learned a lot from the "Profe", and I think he left his mark both in Chile and the rest of the world. I learned a lot with him, I would have never thought I'd learn as much as I did".

"The day of your presentation, in the press conference, you said you wanted to learn from your new teammates. Do you often do that?"
"I always try to learn from all my teammates. If I see a good move and I like it, and it's another player who does it, I practice it until I get it right."

"On that same day you met Pep Guardiola. What do you think of him?"
"I haven't spoken much with him, but I think he wants to win, and win everything. Not only that, but he wants to do it playing good football, which is how Barça plays."

"Here you'll be wearing the number 9 shirt, is it the position where you are most comfortable?"
"I've played in all three forward positions, both in the middle and on the left and right. I can adapt to all three positions. Messi wears number 10 and plays as a striker, just like a number 9. Here, it doesn't matter the number you wear or the position you play in, because in the end everybody changes position all the time."

"It's been said that you can bring things that the team hasn't had up to now. How do you feel after having signed for FC Barcelona?"
"If they need me, I'll give them everything I can. I feel well supported and with a responsibility at the same time, because I want to leave the name of Chile well positioned."

"How would you define Alejandro Matias away from the football pitch?"
"I'm shy and don't like to go out a lot, I prefer to be at home, watch movies ... but, above all, I want to come onto the pitch and receive the ball".

"How has your early life been?"

"When I was young, my mom and dad were the most loving couple I have ever seen but as time passed by they grew up hating each other. When they separated, my mother told me three things; number one, 'You are not the reason'; number two, 'You are not the reason'; and number three, 'You are not the reason'. It left me wondering, If I wasn't the reason then what was? When I used to see their photos, the way they smiled made me think what changed between then and now. I came along. I gave them responsibilities and grey hair. I made them weak", I stopped and took a deep breath. " My father turned his back on me and mother, leaving us in slum. At first my mother was an emotional mess but later on she tried to move on for me. To forget about father, she engaged herself in work. She worked two jobs. None of them were in the "comfortable zone". In the mornings she worked at the school I used to go, as a cleaning lady and then at a small cafe down the street of our house. When she used to come home, there used to be a smile on her face, to assure me that she is happy but on the inside she was broken. I felt as if I am a burden on her so I quit my studies and started working. A kind man offered me a job at his small garage, where I washed cars and earned 5 dollars weekly. Well, I wasn't having a degree neither I had any experience so I couldn't expect much. In fact I was thankful that he even offered a job to someone like me".