I'm a morning person. So when I saw Jalil Anibaba online today, I thought why not see how things have been going through his first few days training at Atletico Madrid. We talk Ja's touring of the training facilities and stadium, how he plans to spend Thanksgiving and his picking up of the Spanish lisp. Enjoy!
Jeff Crandall: How has your training stint gone so far?
Jalil Anibaba: It’s been going really well. I’m having a great time out here and I’m really loving the experience so far. The training facilities are top class. It’s separate from the stadium which is in the city itself. Amazing grass and turf fields and really everything you could need for training.
JC:Who are you training with?
JA: I’m training with the B team. The first day we scrimmaged the first team. They provided good competition and a great experience. It is rewarding to be able to measure yourself against guys that have proven success in winning the Europa League last season.
JC:Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, so how do you plan to celebrate it there in Spain tomorrow?
JA: Of course I’m American at heart and unfortunately I’m away from home and my family over Thanksgiving. I’m probably going to Skype in with the family before they eat dinner and say hello. That’ll do for me.
JC: Have you been able to get into the city yet?
JA: Yeah, some of the representatives from the club took me into the city. I got to see their stadium and museum, the locker room and all their facilities. It was a great experience.
JC: Have you had paella yet?
JA: I haven’t had paella in Spain yet but I’ve had it lots of times because my stepmother’s mom is from Spain actually. She cooks it for us all the time. Spanish food is really nothing new to me to be honest.
JC: How is your Spanish? Are you speaking with a lisp yet?
JA: My Spanish is okay. I can speak a bit and I know enough to get by when I need to. The lisp throws me off but you have to adapt!
JC:What have you been doing with your down time?
JA: I’ve treated my down time as seriously as I do back in Chicago. Making sure I get enough rest in between sessions is the primary focus. However, if situations permit, I will explore. Like I said earlier, I got the chance to tour their stadium and all their facilities and that was amazing. From what I've seen, the city of Madrid is beautiful to say the very least.
JC: How have the players received you? Have they talked to you about what MLS is like?
JA: The other players have been great. They have received me well and they treat me with respect and kindness. Many are curious about MLS and how much the league has grown in recent years. From what I have experienced thus far, it's safe to say our league's growth has expanded beyond our shores and people around the world are becoming more aware of what we are doing in the US.
JC:Any chance you’ll be able to take in a first team game?
JA: Yeah it’s looking like I’ll be able to see a few. I think definitely their game against Sevilla on the weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing them play live and just the atmosphere to see how everything compares. When you watch teams play on television from a thousand miles away, you don’t get the experience firsthand so being here will be tremendous.
JC:On Monday Austin Berry was named Rookie of the Year and Logan Pause won the Fair Play award. What is your reaction to having your teammates be recognized?
JA: I think it’s a tribute to how amazing our season was. Obviously we didn’t finish like we would have hoped but there’s definitely a silver lining to be found within our season. Austin is definitely a part of that – he had an amazing season as a rookie and we’re all very happy for him. It’s very deserving because he stepped in and contributed at a time where we needed him and never let go of his spot.
As far as Logan is concerned, winning the Fair Play award epitomizes him as a person and as a class player and captain. I feel like he does a lot of dirty work and it doesn’t always get noticed. His approach to the game is tremendous and I’m very pleased that he was acknowledged for it.
JC:You’re going to be in Madrid until December 2 and then preseason begins again in mid-January… Are you feeling like you need a little rest?
JA: I feel great. My body feels great and I’m just trying to push myself and become a better professional every day.
JC:What are you doing once you get back stateside?
JA: I’m going to stop off in Chicago for a little bit and then head back home to California to see the family. As far as training is concerned, I’ll speak with Tony [Jouaux] about exactly the best way to go about staying fit but also getting some rest.
JC:Thanks for your time Jalil! We’ll check back in with you next week!
JA: Sounds good! Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone!
