Gilberto chat transcript
From UEFA.com
Arsenal FC midfield player Gilberto joined us in the uefa.com chat room on the Friday before the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg ties. Read his answers to your questions below.
Moderator: Welcome to Talk Football Expert Chat, brought to you in association with MasterCard. Today's guest is Arsenal FC midfield player Gilberto.
fly_SWISS: hello mr. gilberto silva, i'm a great arsenal fan, so i'm very happy that you're in the final of the fa cup, what do you think about this?
Gilberto: It's a final which is always important for players and I just hope that we can beat Manchester United [FC] in Cardiff.
fonz: We have heard this from a lot of your colleagues, but i just want to know what u think :does the club need to strengthen the squad during the summer?
Gilberto: I don't know what the club plans to do in the summer but we need to bring more players to Arsenal. We have to avoid the problems we've experienced this season and make sure that injuries and suspensions don't hurt us next year. It's important for us to improve.
RichardMac: How did you fill your time during your injury? Did you still attend practices and team meetings?
Gilberto: One of the things I made sure to do was to keep away from football as much as possible, so I went to Brazil to stay with my family and didn't even play any football video games! I saw a few matches on TV but that was all. I didn't want to miss playing, more than I already was.
tgif: Would you say it is more your physical, technical or mental strengths which make you one of todays top defensive midfielders?
Gilberto: I think a defensive midfielder needs all those attributes to be a top player. The key to success is to use those strengths at the right time during the game. That's what I have always tried to do. If I could pick one attribute I'd say that the mental aspect is the most important thing in modern football. You need to see things before they happen!
Carlos Alberto's smallest fan: Who is the best player you have played with and the best you have played against?
Gilberto: That's a tough one! I have played with a lot of excellent players in my career and against some good ones too. I'm not going to pick one. Sorry!
Andrew: What's your favourite film?
Gilberto: Man of Honour is my favourite film. Cuba Gooding Jr is in it, and it's about somebody chasing a dream against all the odds. It's a good lesson in life.
nuttinbutagunner: what is it like to play with Patrick Vieira? How would you rank him among the top midfielders in Europe?
Gilberto: Patrick is so good to play alongside in the midfield. He is definitely one of the best players I have played with. I think we combine well for the team. He makes my own work easier at times and I hope he feels the same. We are always helping each other during the match. I love playing with him. In his position, Patrick is one of the best in the world.
ArsenalFCIII: what make you so well with your first touch?? was it juggling?
Gilberto: It's the Brazilian style! Back home all the players focus on technique and that happens when kids first pick up a football at a young age. It's part of our game culture and in my case it's a very important attribute to have. With so little space you need a good touch.
FootballMad: Who do you want to see in the final of the Champions Leauge. Liverpool [FC] or Chelsea [FC]?
Gilberto: I'd rather see both of them out and Arsenal in the final! Sadly that can't happen now but I don't care who goes through. I just wish we were there.
John Kettley's brolley: What do you think of the British weather?
Gilberto: The English weather is horrible! It's a bit depressing really. It's not the sort of weather I grew up with and sometimes it's hard to get used to it - especially when I can't leave home when I feel like it. Never mind!
tom: What do you think are Brazil's chances for the next World Cup? Favourites?
Gilberto: We have a great chance to win it again. We have to do our homework properly to win, and not think about the favourites tag. Everybody is working hard to qualify and if we go to Germany thinking it will be easy, we will be in big trouble. None of us assume we will win, but we have a good opportunity if we play well. In 2002 nobody expected us to win but we did it. The pressure will be huge now.
pumpkin soup: Who are your favourite defensive midfielders? Is Didier Deschamps one of them?
Gilberto: I loved watching Franco Baresi play at sweeper even though he isn't a defensive midfielder. I didn't see Deschamps play that much so I can't comment on him in detail but at the moment I like Mauro Silva at [RC] Deportivo [La Coruņa]. Before that I used to rate Dunga the Brazil captain very highly. He was a fantastic player.
Danko: Hi Gilberto, do you think PSV [Eindhoven] deserve to be in the semi-finals instead of for example your club?
Gilberto: Yes, PSV deserve to be in the semi-finals. They have played a good tournament and you can't say that they don't deserve a place in the last four. They have won a lot of matches and are a good team.
sid: how different is the epl as compared to brazillian football?
Gilberto: The Premiership is a lot more physical than Brazilian football. That is the biggest difference. In Brazil the game is more technical and some people say it's slower too. But trying to play the English way when it's scorching hot is not so easy! You have to be slower in Brazil.
Green Lanes man: What do you like most about living in London?
Gilberto: It's peaceful living in London. There are a lot of entertainment options in this city and I like to go out and not be disturbed. I like the way people respect your privacy in England.
Pharoah: This is amazing, i really appreciate your time, i read you dont drink, is nutrition important to your performance, is it easy to avoid alcohol in england?
Gilberto: For me it's easy not to drink because I don't like alcohol. I don't even know if alcohol has a bad influence because I don't drink! Nutrition is as important as training itself. You have to look after yourself.
marios: How can you explain the fact that Arsenal fails to perform well in Champions league?
Gilberto: I've been asking myself the same question! I still don't know the answer. Maybe we should play in a different way in Europe compared to when we are in the Premiership. The Champions League is a short competition, so maybe we have to be more strategic.
DerekBatey1980: Is it true that you use the tube to get around London on your days off?
Gilberto: When I first joined Arsenal I got the tube yes. Nowadays I tend to drive everywhere instead because I know my way around London a lot better. I think Edu still uses the tube quite regularly. He likes to.
Robinho: Can Arsenal win the cup final without Thierry Henry?
Gilberto: We are definitely going to miss Thierry Henry but we can still win the FA Cup final without him. It's a difficult and important moment for the club and all the players want Thierry to be with us. If he isn't fit we will all put in even more effort to try and win the trophy for him.
serick: What played a big part in you deciding to sign for Arsenal? Surely many other teams wanted you.
Gilberto: Arsenal gave me the most interesting offer and it's a great club with a great deal of potential. I was very happy to sign for Arsenal.
Batman: What do you think of Arsenal's achievements this season?
Gilberto: It hasn't turned out like we planned because we felt we would be challenging for the Premiership title again. We need to win the FA Cup to make sure this season isn't remembered as a tragedy for Arsenal.
Terry Henry: What player from Man United will be the most dangerous in the final?
Gilberto: Ruud van Nistelrooij, Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo - they are all very dangerous. Most of all we are going up against a very good, experienced side.
Dave Nugent: Could you give three pieces of advice for young footballers out there?
Gilberto: Number one - believe in your dream. Number two - hard times will come but never give up when it happens. Number three - after success arrives, never forget people who helped you along the way.
Gilberto: Thanks for your support. Please keep on supporting Arsenal, especially in the FA Cup final. Thankyou!
