Miguel Campush: "Ronaldo at 40? As a child, I aspired to be just like him."

The Portuguese legionnaire of «Alexandria», Miguel Campush, shared his thoughts on Cristiano Ronaldo, who celebrates his 40th birthday on February 5, in an exclusive interview with Sport.ua. He also assessed the chances of the Alexandrians in European competitions.

- Miguel, Cristiano Ronaldo turns 40 on February 5. What do you think a footballer should do to play at a high level at that age?

- Look, reaching 40 and still playing at the highest level is not for everyone. It requires an incredible level of dedication, taking care of your body like a true professional, and, above all, having that winning mentality that Cristiano has always demonstrated. Discipline in nutrition, rest, special training... all of this is important. But what really makes the difference is the desire to keep competing and the hunger for victories.

- Can you tell us how Portugal reacted to Ronaldo's emergence in football? You were just a child back then. Did you and other kids want to be like Cristiano?

- It was madness. When he first appeared at «Sporting», it was already clear that he was special, but after that game against «Manchester United», all of Portugal realized we had a phenomenon on our hands. When he moved to United, everyone was talking about him, and by Euro 2004, he was already an idol. I was a child and, of course, I wanted to be like him. It was impossible not to try to copy his tricks and free kicks while playing on the streets.

- If Ronaldo were playing in the Ukrainian league now, could he score 30-40 goals in a season if he played for a top UPL team?

- Look, we are talking about one of the greatest goalscorers in football history. If he had a team built around him, of course, he could reach those numbers. He is still scoring a lot in Saudi Arabia, and physically he still impresses. But, of course, it all depends on the team, the tactics, and the quality of his teammates... But if you give him the right chances, he won't miss.

- In the EPL, Nottingham Forest is in 3rd place, while in Serie A, Atalanta is in 2nd place. Do you think «Alexandria» is similar to these teams?

- These are completely different realities. «Nottingham» and «Atalanta» play in top leagues with extremely high levels of competition. However, when it comes to style of play, how they fight on the field and try to surprise stronger opponents, «Alexandria» can have the same mentality. Of course, there are differences in individual skill and squad depth, but it all depends on hard work and ambition.

– What do you think about «Alexandria's» chances in the group stage of the European competitions?

– It really depends on the opponents and the tournament. If it’s the Champions League, facing teams like «Manchester City» or «Real Madrid», you understand that it will be very difficult. But if it's a team from a smaller league, like a champion from Scandinavia or a team from a lower-ranked league, then of course, you can dream of a positive result. Anything can happen in football. The Europa League is always tough because it includes teams that drop out from the Champions League, but in the Conference League, there are matches where «Alexandria» could undoubtedly compete and earn points. It all depends on the draw, of course, but anything is possible in European competitions if you prepare well and believe in your game plan. Even in the Europa League, with the right approach, you can surprise some teams.

– How would you evaluate the training camp in Turkey?

– Pre-season training is always about testing various things, so the results are not the most important. Winning two matches with a score of 3:0 is a positive sign, but the losses and draws show that there is still work to be done. I think the team will strive for consistency, maintaining a high level of play throughout all 90 minutes. As for «Zorya» and «Shakhtar», those will be tough matches. «Shakhtar» always contends for the title, and «Zorya» is a strong team as well. We need to be fully focused, physically prepared, and tactically ready. But we believe in our team and will be ready to fight for points.