Fuente: © Liverpool F.C.
http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/

LIVERPOOL FC: WHAT'S IN A NAME: SEBASTIAN LETO

Every home match Liverpool FC's official matchday programme ponders the question: 'What does a player's name say about their personality?'

/noticias.info/ It offers a quirky insight into life on and off the pitch with a whole host of random questions that inspire answers you won't find in your average football interview.

Here Sebastian Leto tells us who he feels is the 'new' Diego Maradona, why he would love to visit Egypt and what English dishes he enjoys eating most of all.

S SETTLING IN
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIVING IN ARGENTINA AND ENGLAND?

It's a completely different way of life here in England, particularly compared to Argentina. The main difference is obviously the language, although I am getting a lot better with my English and I go to classes every week. If you don't try to learn, you're going to find it difficult on and off the pitch. In terms of training, there's a lot more running and more emphasis on the physical aspect of the game, so it's more demanding on your body.

E EVENING MEAL
WHAT WOULD YOU EAT IF YOU WERE TOLD IT WAS YOUR LAST EVER MEAL?

(Laughing) If I didn't have to go training the next day, if I was in Argentina, I would have a big barbeque with my family. It would include all kinds of meat and sausages and massive sides of beef.

WHAT ABOUT ENGLISH FOOD?

I eat a lot of tomato soup, but fish and chips are good too, although the manager doesn't like us eating it.

B BUENOS AIRES
HOW DOES THE RIVALRY BETWEEN TEAMS IN THE CITY COMPARE TO LIVERPOOL AND EVERTON?

I grew up supporting River Plate whose main rivals are Boca Juniors. In comparison to Liverpool and Everton, here it's much more sedate, it's much more quiet, whereas in Buenos Aires, the passion between the two clubs is bordering on hatred. Within Argentina, there are a lot of intense derbies and the closest thing to Boca/River is probably the Avellenda derby between Independiente and Racing Club. The atmosphere at those games is sometimes frightening.

A ARGENTINIAN WONDERKIDS
ARE THERE ANY WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT?

Franco di Santo, who's just signed for Chelsea is a player who a lot of people have been talking about. But if I am honest, I think Liverpool have the brightest Argentinian prospect in Javier Mascherano. He's highly regarded back home, so we are lucky to have him.

javier mascherano manchester united 161207


WHO'S THE NEXT MARADONA THEN?

A lot of people have been labelled with the tag of being the next Maradona over the years, so it would be unfair of me to heap pressure on a lesser-known player and label him with such an honour. Having said that, we all know what Lionel Messi is like and at the moment, there is no player like him around the world.

S SCOUSERS
SOME SAY THAT PEOPLE FROM LIVERPOOL AND BUENOS AIRES ARE SIMILAR BECAUSE OF THE PORT LINKS WITH BOTH CITIES. DO YOU AGREE?

The main similarity I have seen is that both sets of people are very friendly. So far, a lot of people have helped me with everything I need, but I am sure I will get a greater understanding of this when my English gets better!

T TEAMMATES
WHO DO YOU SPEND THE MOST TIME WITH OFF THE PITCH?

I get on with all the players, but when you're settling in like me, you have to spend time with people you know. So I see a lot of Emiliano Insua and Javier Mascherano. It's a bit of a wrench leaving home at first, but they have helped me to settle in. I also spend a lot of time with my girlfriend of course and we go out for meals a lot. There are some good Argentinian restaurants in Liverpool.

Insua


I IDOLS
WHO DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE PLAYING FOOTBALL WITH YOUR MATES?

Easy - Maradona! I may be a River fan, but all Argentinians are passionate about the national team, so it doesn't matter that he is the symbol of Boca. The most important thing is that he was a great player, so it doesn't matter who he played for.

Who are your favourite River players then?

Enzo Francescoli and Norberto Alonso. Some River fans think Alonso is River's greatest ever player although he never really made an impact when he played for Marseille in Europe in the late 1970s.

A AWAY GROUNDS
WHAT IS THE MOST INTIMIDATING ATMOSPHERE YOU HAVE PLAYED IN?

La Bombonera (Boca) is quite bad, especially when you're a River fan or a player. Newell's Old Boys' ground in Rosario is also quite mad. In those games you have to play differently because the crowd puts a lot of pressure on you.

N NEW TRICKS
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU HAVE LEARNT ABOUT YOURSELF SINCE MOVING TO A NEW COUNTRY?

One thing I have noticed is that you have to be mentally tough to make a move abroad successful. At first it was hard because I felt a long way from home, but now it's a lot easier because I realise I have been lucky to come to a city like Liverpool because it's very cosmopolitan and it's a nice place to live.

L LANUS
HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT MISSING OUT ON THE APERTURA CHAMPIONSHIP?

I was a bit upset because Lanus gave so much to me as a teenager and spent a lot of time making me the player I am today, so it would have been nice to share such a great moment. But obviously, the opportunity to come and join a great club with an amazing history like Liverpool was something too big to miss out on.

E EYE OPENER
WHAT'S THE STRANGEST THING YOU HAVE SEEN ON A FOOTBALL PITCH?

Off the top of my head, I was playing a game for Lanus and a dog ran onto the pitch. It was running everywhere and it held the game up, so in the end one of the players tripped it up to stop it running around. I can't remember who we were playing and what type of dog it was though!

T TRAVEL
IF YOU COULD GO TO ONE PLACE ON HOLIDAY, WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

I have always been fascinated by the pyramids, so it would have to be Egypt.

Leto Itandje


O OVER THE MOON
WHEN ARE YOU AT YOUR HAPPIEST?
In life, it has to be with my family. It's the most important thing. Professionally though, the day I signed for Liverpool was a great day. People in Argentina view signing for a big European club as a big thing, so it was very important to me. All I want to do now is kick on in my career and contribute to a successful Liverpool side. notas_de_prensa_archivo