Recently, Real Madrid legend Guti was interviewed by GQ Magazine, where he fondly recalled his glory days playing for Real Madrid and commented on Crowe and the current state of the team.
Speaking about the three Champions League titles he has won, Guti said that it is the first one that he values the most. He recalled, "Of all the Champions League titles, the one I value the most is the first one I won. At that time, everyone was so eager to win it that when the victory came, the whole city went into a frenzy. We celebrated in Madrid in an open car, it was an unforgettable crazy moment." For his second Champions League title, Guti carries a tinge of regret, as that was when he missed most of the games due to injury and had to watch his teammates on crutches on their way to the title. While it's always nice to see your teammates win, not being able to play alongside them leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. As for the third Champions League title, although Guti was unable to play, he was still impressed by Zinedine Zidane's wonderful goal and the celebrations of his teammates.
Talking about his lifestyle, Guti admits that he likes to go out at night, but he never goes out the night before a game. He believes that while soccer is important, there is more to life than just soccer and he hopes to enrich his life by meeting more people. On the perception that he might have achieved more at Real Madrid if he had been more disciplined in his life, Guti said that it was a lifestyle he chose and that he had no regrets.
During his experience working with Crowe, Guti revealed that Crowe has passed on his philosophy of self-care to others. He laughs that he doesn't know if Crowe goes to the gym at 6:30 a.m. because he's not there yet at that time. But Crow's arrival did make working out an obligation for everyone. According to Guti, the image of players has become extremely important these days, not only because of the soccer aspect of their performance, but also because of social media. Players are more exposed to the public eye and have to conform to certain standards.
Speaking about the hostility and anger he has suffered from rival fans during his career, Guti said that the fact that more attention is now being paid to the players is a very good sign. He believes it is important to protect soccer, to progress and to eliminate behavior that previously seemed normal but in reality was completely abnormal. Any player who feels uncomfortable or harassed on the field should report it, which would improve soccer as a sport.
Speaking about his assists, Guti believes that the one to Zidane was much more complicated than the one to Benzema's heel. He recalled the assist he gave to Zidane against Sevilla in the 2005-2006 season, which still delights him.
On whether he still follows Real Madrid now, Guti said he has been following the team's developments. He believes that Real Madrid showed great potential in the reverse fixture against Dortmund and that it is hard to be beaten in a game of such high intensity. Guti spoke highly of Carlo Ancelotti, who has always been able to rationalize the situation and bring the team together. However, he also pointed out that Real Madrid are now adapting to the change of not having Kroos, which will surely have an impact, but is confident that Ancelotti will put the pieces of the puzzle together.
