The new Di Stefano

Last updated: 19th September 2007

The new Di Stefano

Sneijder: Dead-ball specialist

We have to play like a team and with the qualities we have up front and in midfield we can do good things.

Wesley Sneijder
Quotes of the week

- Sneijder scored 43 goals in 126 appearances for Ajax.
- He made his international debut in 2003 at the age of 18.
- Sneijder has won 38 Holland caps, scoring 7 times.

Related links

Teams

Revista, Tuesdays, Sky Sports

Revista de la Liga caught up with Real Madrid's summer signing Wesley Sneijder who has made an immediate impact at the Bernabeu.

The 23-year-old Holland international has scored four goals in Real Madrid's opening three matches in La Liga - three of which have been trademark free-kicks.

Sneijder, who came through the Ajax Academy and played for five seasons in the Amsterdam club's first team, told Revista that he hopes his rich vein of form can carry on throughout the season.

"If I continue this way it will be very nice, also I think with the team are still growing which is very good.

"I play on the left side, in a free position - I have to do my thing and also we have to defend for the team, together, and fight for each other.

"We have the quality to score goals.

"Four goals in only three games - of course it's very nice, but I want to continue in this way and I want to score more goals, but the most important thing is to win the games.

"We have to play like a team and with the qualities we have up front and in midfield we can do good things."

Favourable comparisons

The diminutive midfielder is already being compared to Real legend, Alfredo Di Stefano and Sneijder was asked by Guillem Balague on Revista if he remembers another Bernabeu great - his coach, Bernd Schuster.

"I was too young to remember," replied Sneijder.

"He joins in at training sometimes. The German mentality eh? He's a little bit German mixed with Spanish - he likes to play football - the possession game, which is pure Spanish.

"Also he's very organised - he wants everything under control. After that we can attack! That is the German part."