"God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast and when I run, I feel his pleasure."

Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire

Disappointments

I am a bit frustrated, because no one expects a move to a new club to be a negative experience. When I was transferred to Real Madrid, I had ambitions, to make a contribution and to do well – to build on what I had achieved at AC Milan and to be a successful player.

But at Real Madrid I was injured and there were other issues. That all resulted in me not playing as much as I wanted. But what gives me peace is to know that I am working hard to obtain results. My role is to plant, and water, and to wait for the fruit God will give me.

How do you deal with your disappointments?

I see disappointments as part of God’s plan. Because I think God really has a purpose for everything, and there is a time for all things, that’s the way I deal with things that did not turn out as I planned. Man can make plans, but the realization comes from God. So I make plans, and many times they do not turn out as I expected.

From that I’ve been learning that whatever happens is what God wants for my life. I have been planting and watering, and whatever comes up as fruit, I know , is what God wants for me. God gives me everything I need. And that’s the assurance that I have. Everyday I have all I need for that day. And as far as my desires are concerned, God will grant them when He deems it right.

Does your faith help you deal with the pressure of being in spotlight ?

It has helped me a lot. I always look at Bible passages, where Jesus - my greatest example - went through moments of pressure, like when the Pharisees questioned Him or when the crowds would press Him to performing a miracle. I always try to find situations where Jesus himself was going through a lot of pressure.

I see that He always had the assurance in His heart of the convictions that He had and He prayed. He knew God was in control of everything. And that’s similar to what I do in moments of pressure. I continue to remind myself of the convictions of my faith, of the things I know, and to pray knowing God is in control.

What was the hardest moment in your life, that Jesus helped you go through it?

I think that defeat is very difficult to deal with. Losing games. Moments of defeat can be very hard. I think that these were the most difficult moments. I also think that these are the moments where we need the most and that we can see situations that in a moment of euphoria we can't see. But generally I think that my life with God has helped me get a balance so that in moments of victory I do not think that I was the greatest, neither in the moments of great difficulties do I think that I was the worst.

Getting a balance between my professional life and my personal life is so important. Being balanced in all my decisions has helped me and continues to. He reaches His hand to me in every moment, every day.

There are days, when it’s hard to get up because of frustration, difficulties, and so on. But knowing that I am serving a faithful God brings me joy, and motivation every day.

So it’s a battle in my mind between my body and my spirit. My body wanting to stop and give up. And my spirit saying “no, keep going and soon you will have accomplished something greater”. That’s what God has taught me. God is teaching me a lot through the things I’m going through in my life.

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