A Day With: Ex-AFC keeper Manuel Almunia

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  • Enjoying coaching: Manuel Almunia.

    Arsenal fans in the UAE have recently seen a familiar face putting the Al Jazira goalkeepers through their paces.

    Manuel Almunia, 38, has chosen the Abu Dhabi-club as the first step on his post-playing career.

    The Spaniard – who played 175 matches for the Gunners from 2004-12 – has been a key member of boss Henk ten Cate’s staff since his mid-season arrival, ensuring UAE international
    Ali Khaseif and regular reserve Khalid Alsenaani are in prime condition.

    Almunia carries rich experience, a heart condition picked up during a routine medical with Cagliari two years ago bringing an end to a varied and long spell with the gloves.

    Sport360 caught up with him to discuss Arsenal’s fortunes, memories of manager Arsene Wenger and his new life in the Emirates.

    How have you found your first few months with Al Jazira and what have you found out about the level of goalkeepers in the UAE?

    It has been very good and a very different experience to Europe. I learn something different every day.

    They are good goalkeepers out here, but there is a lack of technical teaching from school. This is the base and is something they need to sort out if they want to improve the goalkeeping from academy level.

    You are working extensively with UAE No. 1 and captain Ali Khaseif. What are your early impressions of him?

    Ali is a great guy, with a great personality. He is a character and a big name in the UAE. Everybody respects him a lot, it is a pleasure to work with him.

    He is a veteran. Mature goalkeepers still have to work on some things and we are working mainly in the technique, passing drill and things like this. I’ve found in the UAE that goalkeepers are not the best with their feet.

    Al Jazira have experienced a very-mixed season, with you coming in after a disastrous spell under sacked coach Abel Braga. What have been the early challenges?

    Everybody was so down and depressed because of the results. We (Ten Cate and his technical team) have tried to change the things we didn’t like.

    There is a good improvement since then. We have a good team and lots of space to improve.

    How did your move to Al Jazira come about?

    I was in Spain and Gianluca (Nani – new sporting director at Jazira, who held a similar role while Almunia was at Watford from 2012-14) gave me a call. He told me he would always call me wherever he goes.

    He trusts me a lot and as soon as he called me, I came with him. It is a pleasure to work with him and he trusts I will do a good job.

    I previously did some coaching in Spain, but at a very, very low level. I have signed a contract until the end of the season and let’s see. We will talk in the future and the main thing is the club wins games. I enjoy every single day here. When May comes, I will be open to everything.

    How tricky is the transformation from player to coach?

    It is difficult, as in many ways I still think like a footballer. Sometimes I get into the dress- ing room and talk with the players in the same way I used to.

    When I see myself with a different kit on, I remind myself: ‘Manu, you are a coach now. Get out of the dressing room and leave the players to it.’ I am changing every day.

    As a player, you had the privilege of working under Arsene Wenger for so many years at Arsenal. What kind of things did he teach you?

    When I get to know different people in football, I admire more Arsene Wenger. When I was an Arsenal player, I didn’t realise how good he is. You compare him to different coaches and you hope he could be your coach for all your life. I hope he succeeds this season.

    When he bought me (Almunia was owned by Celta Vigo but had spent several spells away on loan at smaller Spanish clubs), you never think about that process of becoming Arsenal goalkeeper.

    Everything you do every day is the same at a big club in England and a small club in Spain. The pressure is always the same, despite the club’s name. You only realise how big the pressure was when you are retired.

    It looks like this will be another season when Arsenal do not win the Premier League title. What do you think needs to change for Arsenal to win again?

    Arsenal have changed a lot of things since I left the club. The standard is much better.

    They have put a lot of money in and have improved every inch of the club. The only thing that has to change is the luck, which we miss in the key games. I don’t know if it is the pressure, but in some key moments Arsenal struggle to shake it off.

    Would you like to see more money invested after they brought Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in?

    I think they have a great team. The problem is injuries.

    That is a massive problem for Arsenal, not only in this year but many times in the last 10 years. I hope and wish I could have been playing with the players they have now. They have a massive team, with big players.

    What was it like training with legends like Thierry Henry every day?

    In that moment, you think it is normal. They are normal people. They become extraordinary when people talk to you about the games they played in.

    Current goalkeeper Petr Cech was Arsenal’s only major signing last summer. What have you made of his performances?

    He is a solid goalkeeper, who has enjoyed a big career. He has maturity and is a nice guy.

    I think Arsenal have a good goalkeeper for a few years, as he is truly professional. I have no doubts he will continue to succeed and be a big name in Arsenal’s history.

    How hard was it for you when your playing career ended so abruptly and how is your health now?

    My heart is okay, as I now train hard every day for other goalkeepers and not myself. My health at the moment is very good.

    The first year was very hard and shocking, as I had to stop in one minute. I was back in Spain doing nothing.

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