Tonel: Everything I have I made with hard work

Before the start of the UEFA Champions league group phase, we talked with Tonel, Portuguese centre back who is counting his second year in Dinamo. Topics were very different: how did he get use to life in Zagreb, playing in Dinamo, Croatian vs. Portuguese league, football beginnings and a lot of other interesting things about his life and career.

When you were coming to Dinamo did you think that in the first season you will play so good in the Europa League and in the second you will play in the Champions league?

The team already qualified for the Europa league when in came in August and the promise from the club chiefs was that next year we'll give our best to qualify for the Champions league. They told me that I need to come to help the team qualify for the Champions league and not only to play in the national championship; they don't need me for that. Off course, I am very happy with the way things turned out.

What was going through your head in the last 10 minutes of the game in Sweden?

Uf... It was very difficult, they were attacking, the crowd was pushing them forward and it was very awkward. We were playing 40 minutes with 10 players, it was our third game in six days and we were tired. We made a mistake and paid for it but fortunately - it was the price we could afford.

What do you think about Dinamo squad and our chances in the Champions league?

We have to be realistic and say that we are outsiders in this group. If you take a look at one game at the time - there isn't any in which we are the favourites. But there is always a but in football. T-shirts don't play the game and we can try something. We will do our best in every game and that is all we can do. In every game we'll try to take the victory. For example, first game is in Maksimir against Real Madrid and everyone knows our chances aren't big but we must think that it will be a fantastic day for us, a very bad for them and that we can do something; that's the only way. If we enter each game like that than who knows what we can do?

You told me once that you're a Real Madrid fan? On top of that, Real Madrid has a lot of Portuguese people? Will there be any special feelings for you in that match?

Yes, they are my favourite club and, off course, a lot of Portugal players and Jose Mourinho have a lot to do with that. Sure it will be a special feeling to play against Real Madrid, in Zagreb and Madrid, but on the pitch - it's 11 against 11; nothing more and nothing less. As I said, they are the favourites and we respect them but football is unpredictable.

Ajax and Lyon? How would you rate them?

I think the strongest group in the Champions league is group A with Bayern, Manchester City, Villarreal and Napoli and after that is group D; our group. Beside the great Real Madrid we have strong teams like Lyon and Ajax so it will be a real honour for us to play with these teams. Lyon easily beat Rubin Kazan and that says a lot while Ajax has another great team. It's same like the match against Real: it we have a good day and they think it will be easy - we can do something.

What Dinamo result in the Champions league would make you happy?

It's hard to say. The most important thing is that when the referee signals the end of each game we have a feeling that we did our best. If we can walk out of the pitch with our heads high - that is good; we did enough. That would make me happy and as for the points - we'll have to wait and see what can we get. We have to know that we already did the most important thing when we qualified for the Champions league. If every player gives all his got - there's not much more we can do.

Let's go back a little. Your first league title was the one you won with Dinamo? How did that made you feel?

It was a good feeling. When I came to the club we were a couple of points behind Hajduk but when I saw the players we have and the conditions - I knew we will be champions. My first game was in Split and after the game I was convinced that we are a better team than them. The club won five titles before this one and I was confident that we'll continue this great streak.

How did you come to Dinamo? What was the first thing that came to your mind when your manager said - Dinamo Zagreb?

Everything started and was over in two days. I was five years in Sporting and wanted to go out, try something different. Chiefs in Sporting said "ok, you were very professional and even though you have one more year of contract, we respect you and if you find something - we will let you go". I've received an offer from Turkey but I didn't want my family to move there and than came Dinamo. I knew something about Dinamo before but when it became an option I made a couple of enquiries and people told me only good things about Zagreb and Dinamo. When I came here for a final agreement I was sure I wanted to come because, how to put it in words, I felt the people here really wanted me. The president Barišić, Zdravko and Zoran Mamić too and this was important to me; it was nice to feel wanted.

Did Dinamo fulfill your expectations?

In many ways - yes; Dinamo and Zagreb provided my family and me a home and we like it here. National championship games are maybe a little weaker than I expected but that is our fault; we are really good. Much better than the rest of the league. Other thing I don't understand is the crowd because we play good, win most of the games and there are very few spectators. OK, I can understand during winter and when it's cold but most the time the weather is nice. In Sporting, when the atmosphere was good we had 50.000 and when things were the worse - 10.000 was minimum. It's a big difference to play in front of 500 hundred and 15.000; we have to be professionals but every player plays better in a good atmosphere.

Can you compare Dinamo with the Portuguese clubs? You played for great clubs like Porto and Sporting - organizational comparison and other stuff around the pitch.

It's different, it was easier for me in Portugal but I got use to Dinamo and Zagreb pretty soon. In Sporting I knew the routine: where will we go, eat, sleep and everything else; that why I wanted to go somewhere else - to try something different and Dinamo is different. The main difference in Dinamo and Sporting is that Dinamo is a bigger team in Croatia than Sporting in Portugal; actually, than any team in Portugal. I mean, there are always three teams in Portugal fighting for the title, the big three, Sporting, Porto and Benfica while in Croatia it's practically only Dinamo. Hajduk is a big club, has a lot of fans and everything but they are not a real competitor when Dinamo won six titles in a row and made more than a 100 points difference.

Can you compare Portuguese league with Croatian?

The stadiums are much, much better because of the Euro 2004. and, off course, more people on the stands. If you have same players here and in Portugal - they will play better in Portugal. Why? It's only human to play better in front of 50.000 people on a new stadium and on a new pitch. You can be the biggest professional in the world but you are still human. In Croatia are some pitches where, during the winter, you cannot play normal football. Next thing is that there is more difference between Dinamo and Croatian teams than the big three in Portugal and all the others. Maritimo, Braga and Vitoria Guimares can easily beat Benfice; you never know in the game Braga - Porto. In Croatia, if Dinamo goes to Varaždin or Koprivnica you know it can be difficult but - Dinamo will win; in Portugal you never know. I have to admit that in the last two-three years Portuguese league lost on quality. The clubs in the first league don't have a lot of money so they buy players from the second division which is not good.

How much does Portugal football gain and how much looses from Deco, Pepe and other Brazilian players that play for Portugal? Off course, they are just a result of many Brazilians in the league.

There is a mixed opinion on that in Portugal but I - don't agree with that. On the other hand, the world is changing and so is football. We have a lot of foreign players playing for France, Germany and even for Croatia so it's hard; why should Portugal be different? Despite of that - I think it's wrong. I know that the only important thing is to win, no matter the cost, but we should cherish some values. Football is business, there is a lot o money involved and I understand. First we took Deco because we needed him, than Pepe and now we need strikers so Liedson is playing for Portugal... I think it's not good that Brazilian players are not considered foreigners in Portugal so one team can have 11 Brazilians; Maritimo has around 18 Brazilians and that's not good. But it's all a closed circle: clubs need results so they don't have time to invest in young players and educate him for 10 years, they need players which can perform and be sold for as much money clubs can get to buy new players. Long term that's not good because Portuguese players suffer.

How much did Euro 2004. in Portugal mean for the football in the country? On one hand new stadiums were built but on the other hand - clubs cannot afford those big stadiums.

UEFA gave most of the money for new, bigger stadiums and after the Euro ended - the stadiums became club's property and that's when the problems started; especially with the global world crisis. The clubs couldn't afford maintenance of those big stadiums and we have several cases where the club wants the city to buy the stadium because they cannot afford it. The problem is that the city also doesn't want the stadium for 25.000 people when the team attracts 4.000 - 5.000 every weekend.

Let's go back to basics. When did you start to play football?

I started officially with 12 years in Porto and it wasn't easy. It there was 20 players on the pitch - I was that one; the last one. (laugh) At that time - I simply wasn't good enough. We all had to play so when I played a game - next one I wasn't even on the bench but on the stands. I had to work a lot because I am not like Messi; I wasn't born with that kind of skills. Everything I made and a player I am today - I made with hard work. Off course, I had some talent but I achieved everything with hard work. If you look at my career - I was always going up. When being 18 years old I played 3. division for six months, then 2. division for a year and a half, then 1. division with the club that was fighting against relegation, than for the club in the middle of table and after that Sporting Lisbon. In the end - to Dinamo Zagreb; always up. The only thing I wanted in my career is to play, never to sit on the bench, and to grow as a player.

Let's go a couple of personal questions. You are a real family man? Does your family come first?

Yes, family always comes first and we make every decision together. My wife and I have three kids and that is they are the most important part of my life.

Are you a religious person?

Yes.

Do you like it in Zagreb? Your family?

Yes, we all like it very much.

What is your plan for the future? You have a contract with Dinamo for another year and a half?

I have a contract and I'm very happy here. My plan is to stay here for another year and a half and than we'll see.