Despite the loss you’re in fourth position at the moment. Is it too early to be making rash judgements?



“Everyone is entitled to say and think what they want, but it’s one thing to jump to conclusions in September and another to take stock in April. We’ve played six matches and everything is still to play for – the odd defeat or draw more than we would have liked doesn’t change that. As I said before, if we can find some consistency we’ll be up there with Juve and Napoli.”



I’m sure you’ll have been asked this a million times, but what’s the secret to your longevity?



“It’s about passion at the end of the day. Behind that is all the rest – a journey taking you to the top, enabling you to show the world that football knows no age. If you look after yourself and perform well, as I’m doing, then age doesn’t matter. Plus, when you have a group that supports you and helps you reach your potential, then it’s much easier to keep going.

"In my case I’ve also had a quiet, professional life, though of course on occasion I’ve been out and had a late night. You only get one life and you need to have fun too because that helps you feel good on the pitch and off it. When you have a family that helps you and when you have a happy wife and kids waiting for you at home, you can always give that little bit more than anyone else.”



Would you like your son Cristian to be a professional footballer until he’s 40 years old?



“On the one hand I hope he does as well as he possibly can because right now I can see he’s enjoying it. He’s football mad – he always has a ball at his feet whether he’s playing a match or not. He’s really changed from two or three years ago.

"On the other hand, I wouldn’t want that for him because it’s not easy for him to have the surname he does on his back. He’s always being compared to me – his father is the benchmark. To be quite honest with you that annoys me because I know how it could end up going.”



When you look at him do you see yourself as a child?



“Sometimes I see myself in him, though I was much better than him at that age [laughs]! He has room for improvement. Not that he should be hearing me say that. Like my father was with me, I hold him to very high standards. I’ll always be that way because that’s how I was brought up.”



As a youngster could you ever have dreamed that you would still be playing at the age of 40?



“No. I couldn’t never have imagined I’d still be playing at this level – with this club, with the captain’s armband and the No.10 shirt – at 40 years of age. It’s a dream you have as a kid but not all dreams come true. I made it and I will enjoy it right until the end.”