The veteran centre back had been working hard out on the field all morning with the rest of the squad, and had just finished a half-hour gym session before entering with his knee in ice and a smile on his face. I'm sure he won't mind me saying it, but you couldn't tell he was shattered after a difficult morning's training!
How is pre-season going and is the team ready for the new season?
Not yet, it's going well, but we're not ready for the new season yet. When we played Barnsley we could see that we're a little bit off the pace still, but we're getting sharper with more games. Yeah, we'll get there, we've got two weeks and I do still think we need a few more players as we've got quite a small squad. I'm sure the gaffer is working day and night on that one.
How have the new lads settled in well?
Yeah very easily by the looks of it, even when I came here last season it was a very easy club to come into, it's a good group of players, and there are no real b**tards in the team. Everybody looks out for each other. I think the lads are finding it not too hard to settle in. Especially like Denny (Landzaat) who has come from Holland find it hard to find the place, but to be fair Matt McCann and Ed Jones do are a lot of help, driving people around.
You've been here twice now, is the atmosphere different now compared to how it was in your first spell?
It's much better now, much better. There was a good group of hardcore fans (during my first spell) and very proud fans, but there just weren't enough of them. The stadium holds over 24,000 and theres 6,000 in it, it feels empty, and no matter how much they try. You know we always had that one stand were we faced when coming out and there was nobody in it. It just killed the atmosphere. Even though they tried to make atmosphere it was very hard. And I think this season obviously you run out and its full, and the away teams bring a lot of fans, it was nearly a sell out every week.
Does it impress you the quality of player Wigan are able to bring in now?
I think it shows you, you bring in Emile (Heskey) and Denny, players who normally wouldn't have been associated with Wigan, but because of last season, as you know a very good season, Wigan's now been put on the map. People look at were we finished and think tenth, above quite a few teams, teams who have been there for years and who were always bringing in big players, and all of a sudden you have little Wigan in the middle of them. It will take a few years to try and get and established club like they are and I think this season will be key because this will be a hard season. Some people will expect us to finish tenth and be in another cup final, and other clubs will be expecting us to do well so they'll set up differently against us as well. In a way it will be a lot harder this season.
What would you say the players reaction to Pascal Chimbonda returning to training?
He hasn't really trained with us yet. He's come back and done some fitness tests and other stuff, but I better not comment too much on that one.
Personally, what are your hopes for the upcoming season?
Well it would be to finish better than we did last season, even maybe sneak somewhere around the European spots, which we had a chance of last year. But I think the size of the squad and the whole backlash of the Carling Cup sort of killed us a little bit.
Do you think Jewell was kind of relieved not to have got into Europe so soon?
I don't think he'll admit to that one, he'd love to go into Europe, but I think he knows how much of a strain Europe puts on a team. You see how many teams make it into Europe and then the season after have a poor season, but the key really is to try and build on what we did here last season and try and finish a little bit higher than we did last season
How do you rate Jewell as a manager?
If you look at Wigan as a club and as a team, when he took over the first season was a bit of shipping out players and bringing in new players and he's been slowly but surely building his team. He's improved over the years and he's helped the club secure a bigger status. Obviously the chairman and the people who brought him and the players, and who put the money into the club are important, but it's not just how much you put in its how you spend it. He's a good, hands on manager, he loves being out there, he's a bit sarcastic, but when he needs to be tough he is tough. He's got the qualities to be a really good manager.
If Jewell was ever poached by one of the big sides, would you ever consider, taking over as Wigan manager?
(laughs)
I've heard this a few times, I think people underestimate it (being a manager), because people seem to think that if you were a good player that you can also be a good manager. For some players it goes, but its not that easy I think, there's a bit more to that than people expect. I've always said no to that (taking over as Wigan boss) I always thought I'd go into medicine and I probably still will, but you never know I've seen funnier things in football, and you know, something comes along. I would never say no, but at the moment as long as I can play I wouldn't consider it.
Last season, when Manchester United, there was a tackle by you on Christiano Ronaldo, as an honest footballer yourself, does it disappoint you to see so much gamesmanship and diving in today's game?
Was there? (laughs) I don't think he dived in that incident, I did catch him a little bit. Yeah, well at the World Cup, it puts me off football a little bit, ‘cause
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Out of both of your spells at Wigan, who has been your favourite defensive partner?
Wow, I've had a few to be fair. It was funny because Stephane (Henchoz) and me we never played together and we gelled like that, it was so natural. We both had similar games, we tackled when needed to tackle, cleared the ball when it needed clearing, and it was strange how he sort of slid out of it and obviously he's not here anymore. With Fitzy (Fitz Hall), I've not had chance to play with him, and Jacko is always good to play with, he talks well through the game and you know where you are with him. I do like generally playing with another centre half who has a bit of pace as well, obviously I'm getting a bit older now and I haven't got lightning pace so its nice to have somebody who's got a bit more pace, just in case the ball goes over the top. Stephane didn't have a lot of pace but we were very comfortable playing together, sometimes it just clicks.
If you could choose any other defender to play alongside who is playing at the moment, who would you choose?
I think John Terry wouldn't be a bad shout. I like his kind of style, I mean Rio Ferdinand is a very good player but I do like the tenacity of John Terry.
Quite similar to your own game?
Yeah a little bit. Well I think he's got a bit more about him, a bit younger than me. You know I think he's a very good defender, and wears his heart on his sleeve. Scores the odd goal, I do like him.
Do any of the players ever read any of the sports papers or fans magazines? The message boards?
I think there's quite a few players who check the internet, they don't always say they do, but I do it sometimes myself yeah. I don't check so much the fans message boards because there's some people who put messages up and I'm like what the hell? (laughs) Yeah I get a little annoyed but there are some decent people on them, and there are one or two players who check the message boards.
Now that Jimmy Bullard has left, who has taken over as the joker?
Yeah its strange cause Bullard was dead lively it's hard to pick somebody out now there's a few lads who like a good crack. There's Kav and Lee McCulloch, and Bainsey has a bit of a dark sense of humour, and Filo is always ready for a bitchy comment, and Jako to be fair. It's a bit more spread out now it was always Bully he was a nugget , he was just an idiot, generally an idiot. And Mahoney he was also a big factor very lively, they were good lads to have around.
Who's your room-mate on away games, and do they have any annoying habits.
Well this year it's Denny and to be fair he hasn't got any annoying habits. He's got a lot of Dutch music which I don't know and he keeps asking me “do I know that” and I'm like no, I've lived in England for over 11 years after all. He is generally really good to be fair, he doesn't snore, loves his sleep I can't complain to be fair.
Who are the main voices in the dressing room before games?
The gaffer (laughs), its usually the gaffer and myself. Kav goes on a little bit but sometimes the players need to release some of their tension and shout a little bit. The lads have all become used to the Premier league more now and we're a mellow group. Not too tense.
Out of the current squad who would you say is the best athlete and trainer?
Best trainer is different to the best athlete. Best athlete you would probably say Henri Camara and Paul Scharner, physically they are in great shape. Jig is not bad as well to be fair, he's probably one of the best trainers is Jig. Kav does work hard as well. Graham loves a moan as well.
What would you say is the defining moment of your career?
The high point of my career…that's difficult as there have been different circumstances. For example the Carling Cup final was fantastic, but after the cup final we were absolutely gutted. That was a great high point though, to get in a final and run out on the pitch with the team was fantastic, but then 90 minutes later it wasn't a high point anymore, was still great though. I have to say generally the high points for me were like seasons were I achieved promotion or like what we achieved last year and you look back at it at home afterwards and think that was a great season.
And your career low?
I would have to say the first season with Paul Jewell here when we finished tenth, and even we were above the relegation zone for a while. That was pretty low that season. It was a difficult season with a lot of changes and unrest between players within the group and I think that's why Paul Jewell did well to ship out a lot of players that season. It was a restless season and not a very enjoyable season.
Are the players motivated by the supporters, especially at away games?
Yeah, home games even more you have more of our own supporters. Away games its great to see the fans and people cheering , I've had friends who have come over and gone in the Wigan end and who've said it's great. It doesn't half help the players, you know some times the games dead and it's a bit low and when you here people constantly trying to cheer you it gives you an extra buzz. Sometimes its underestimated to be fair, but the fans can play a large part.
Finally, you're a superb role model to any potential future footballers, what advice would you give to them?
Am I? Well first of all believe in yourself and don't give up too easily, if somebody says your not good enough , just wave them away and believe in yourself. Don't give up that's the main thing. And enjoy it, if your not enjoying it don't do it.
We would just like to thank Arjan De Zeeuw for his time, and also Matt McCann for providing and organsing the interview.
Wiganer.net