"So, a professional soccer player should at a given moment..." "At a given moment..." "That's wrong, isn't it?" "So, at a certain moment..." "What should I say, then?" "Barcelona is the capital of the Spanish state of Catalonia" "It lies in the valley between Mallrat and Carafe" "Where the coastal mountains curve inland... and form a kind of amphitheatre." "The climate is soft, the skies mostly clear." "On August 22nd 1973... while General Franco, lying in his sickbed... cheered on his club Real Madrid... landed here, with KLM flight 254, at 5 past 3 p.m. ..." "Hendrik Johannes Cruijff." "At that moment the most famous soccer player in the world." "He had just been contracted for a record sum of 6 million Dutch guilders by FC Barcelona... at that moment the richest soccer club in the world... but whose trophy cabinet had been empty and dusty for 14 years." "That August 22nd the airport and the city... showed a feverish activity." "Johan Cruijff did not know that Barcelona... and the club with the same name... and the strange sounding expression 'en un momento dado'... would stay in his life forever." "Johan..." "Johan..." "The master enters the field" "The stadium welcomes Johan Cruijff." "The applause is overwhelming." "Only God knows... how long we had to wait for this fantastic moment." "Is that ball yours?" " Yes." "What do you want, goal or shooting?" " Goal." "Go stand over there." "Grab it tightly." "Well done." "You're warmed up now, I'll kick it hard." "Where do you want to go?" " To Barceloneta, please." "Do you mind me speaking Catalan?" "No problem." "I only speak Spanish outside of Catalonia." "Here I speak Catalan." "I was in a clothing store in the Paseo Gracia." "I ask the girl for a shirt size 42." "'Do you have this in 42?" "', I ask her in Catalan." "'I don't understand', she answers in Spanish." "'Can you fetch someone who does speak Catalan?" "'" "She turns around and says to her colleague Maria:" "Here's a gentleman who doesn't want to speak Spanish." "'Wait, that's not what I said', I exclaim." "'If I'm treated like this around here, I won't come back.' So I went away." "People think we're radicals." "Well, maybe we are." "But I believe in mutual respect." "What club do you support?" "Me?" "Real Madrid." "I respect that." "To everybody his club." " Exactly." "I remember I played in the youth team of Barça, the Barcelona FC... and it gave me a strong sense of identity." "Being part of Catalonia!" "It made me so happy to wear the Catalan colors." "Someone once said:" "Being Catalan, feels as good as... or maybe even better than an orgasm." "That really says something." " Just imagine!" "I think it's funny." "We're a special people." "You know that September 11th is Catalonia Day?" "And what do we celebrate on our national holiday?" "A defeat!" "What kind of people celebrate their defeat?" "You remember the Cruijff times?" "As player or as trainer?" " Both." "I wasn't old enough then." "You know that Cruijff never learned to speak Catalan?" "I would have liked that." "But well, he named his son Jordi." "I appreciate that." "Good afternoon." "You once said you regard the Spanish as occupiers." "Well, our culture has been forbidden for a long time." "Especially during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco." "Speaking our language was prohibited." "I could only speak Catalan at home, with my mother." "I was born on March 12th, 1939..." "The Nationalists conquered Catalonia on January 26th 1939." "To baptize me my father had chosen the church of El Pilar." "And he wanted the ceremony held in Catalan." "The priest said it was forbidden." "'So we don't baptize him', my father said." "'In Catalan or not at all'." "So I was baptized in Catalan." "What's the reason behind this victim complex of the Catalans?" "After the war my godfather worked... as a civil servant for the state of Catalonia." "and he was a member of Barça." "If he wanted to keep his job, he had to resign his membership!" "Or he would be fired." "The Spanish government always forced us to do her will." "And then the year 1973 arrived..." " Yes, 1973..." "Barça hadn't won a cup in 10 years." "The club was at its all-time low." "It was a disaster." "Like now, but then it was just pathetic." "And we paid a huge amount of money to get Cruijff." "He was the most expensive buy in our history." "That thin, skinny, lanky little man, that smoked like a chimney..." "This little boy was going to save us?" "But yes, he did." "We were beside ourselves with happiness." "We still didn't thank him enough... for what he did for Catalonia." "He gave us our pride back." "When he came here, in 1973, I used to go and watch him." "He was a sensation in the field." "The way he changed speed, the way he hit the ball..." "I never enjoyed soccer more than in Cruijff's time with Barça." "But the victory over Real Madrid was the most beautiful thing he gave us." "A 0-5 victory, imagine." "I remember I was glued to the radio, together with some friends." "We didn't have television yet." "We embraced each other at every goal, weeping with joy." "We ran into the streets, extremely happy." "Car horns everywhere..." "We yelled at the top of our voices:" "Barça, Barça, Cruijff, Cruijff.." "0-5 in the Bernabeu stadium." "Incredible." "Bernabeu, the chairman of Madrid, had said more than once:" "I'd love Barcelona and Catalonia, if it weren't for the Catalan people..." "Gentlemen... step backwards, please." "Cruijff..." "Marcial." "Goes around Netzer." "Crossing pass..." "And goal by Asensi." "A great action by Asensi." "Look at the replay" "Cruijff, there goes Cruijff." "And goal!" "What an incredibly beautiful move." "Look, what an extraordinary goal by Cruijff." "Cruijff passes to Juan Carlos..." "And goal by Juan Carlos." "Cruijff..." "Asensi." "And goal by Asensi." "Cruijff." "Sotil." "And the fifth goal by Barcelona." "It was like a dream." "Revenge was so sweet." "It was no bitter revenge." "No, a great, sweet revenge." "We totally humiliated those bastards from Madrid." "We, Barça, we won from Madrid." "I still can't think about it without getting goose bumps." "Look." "It's been so many years, but I still feel... like it happened yesterday." "We felt Catalan, to the depths of our souls." "Fuck you, bastards from Madrid." "Catalonia defeats Madrid central government." "0-5." "And all thanks to Johan Cruijff." "The Saviour of Catalonia." "Cruijff had a sensational technique." "He could do fabulous moves, that no-one else could." "One of his moves that I'd like to show you... is how he always kicked with 'the wrong side'." "If he was standing on his left foot, he'd shoot with his right, and vice-versa." "I'll try to demonstrate." "Cross pass with his left foot." "Catalan was the only language forbidden during Franco, wasn't it?" "That's right, in Franco's time Catalan was prohibited." "The only language that couldn't be spoken." "The only place you could speak Catalan in that time... was in the Barça stadium, the Camp Nou." "It was a public secret that Catalan could be spoken there... without getting into trouble." "I was particularly impressed by Cruijff's leadership in the field... and the way he guided his fellow players." "Those are unforgettable moments for me." "Sotil..." "Charlie.. there..." "Neeskens, here...." "A quiet walk with Danny is impossible." "The fans are everywhere, even early morning at the Ramblas." "There's always someone who smiles and wants a little chat." "Everyone wants to shake hands with his idol." "Johan and Danny love each other, and both love Barcelona." "Those were the days." "Gemma, are you married?" " No." "Nobody came even close to Cruijff." "If you had a boyfriend, did he have to..." "They all had to look like Cruijff." "I remember Johan wearing those chequered jackets for a while..." "I used to buy those for my boyfriends." "That didn't help either." "Something was missing." "You were 12 when you first saw Cruijff playing in Camp Nou." "The first time I saw him I knew:" "He's the one." "I lived close to Camp Nou stadium Barça is part of my life." "I always thought we Catalans were different." "Cruijff confirmed that feeling." "He was incomparable to anyone else." "His way of playing, his toughness and charm, that nice hair..." "The way he wore his socks, the way he walked into the world without looking at the ball." "He had a secret agreement with the ball." "He moved in another universe." "I never saw that again." "He was an artist..." "And really handsome." "I fell in love from the first moment." "I was really young." "I dreamed of him, I made up a whole life with him." "When he got hurt I cried with anger... and I hated the idiot that hit him for the rest of my life." "Later you discover that the loves and ideals of youth... were not that meaningful." "You ask yourself how you could ever have liked that person." "But with Cruijff it's different." "I still think I had good reason to fall in love with such a man." "There's no better guy in the world." "Of course now it's different." "He doesn't know all this." "It's my private feeling... but I still adore him." "I can't and won't change that anymore." "Why did other men disappoint you?" "I'm not going to tell you." "But you are often disappointed by other people's behavior." "Some idols fall into the abyss." "When Cruijff started being a trainer with Barça, I feared he would fail..." "So I would have to defend him." "But no, it didn't become a drama." "On the contrary, he made me very happy;" "he made me feel proud with Barça." "They played great." "He led the team with great courage." "He tried crazy things, that still ended well." "He never disappointed me." "He met with all my expectations." "Did you ever meet him?" " Never." "I'd never go up to him to talk." "That would be a disgrace." "I saw him a couple of times in shops or restaurants... but I never asked for an autograph or told him how much I admire him." "He's too important for me, I respect him too much." "To bother him while he's having dinner with his wife, is beneath me." "Plus, what I feel for Johan, is my private concern." "I like his attitude, his body language." "Over the years he became a little disinterested... but when he was young he showed his personality." "I love his nose." "I love everything about him, but mostly his nose." "You feel he's unfathomable?" "He's often a big question mark to me, but I like that in him." "I discovered it's better and easier not to understand him." "Cruijff said so himself once:" "God moves in mysterious ways." "I ask you to choose one moment.." " He made me happy so often." "One moment, that would fall short of him." "One moment?" "There's so many..." "He made me happy so often." "Johan walked like this." "Making a feint." "And now the goal against Reina." "The ghost goal..." "He came running like this..." "and shot into the net like this." "Soccer is a hobby for a lot of people." "It's a job for Johan Cruijff." "Cruijff's hobby is painting." "He loves it, he's good at it." "That's why I use Bruguer paint." "Bruguer paint." "A good choice." "High quality." "Bruguer paint." "Your brand." "I can't possibly imitate a move by Cruijff." "If I could, I wouldn't be here..." "I'd be rich, being trainer of a club, something like that." "So I'm sorry, I can't help you." "To a lot of people here he's a hero." "A soccer player doing advertisements for underpants of paint is no hero." "Those two things can't go together, in my opinion." "I see him as an artist, not as a hero." "He was a pioneer, opening up new horizons" "He changed the soccer match radically, like Picasso did with painting." "In soccer, there's 'before' and 'after Cruijff'." "Both Cruijff as a player and as a trainer." "He never swerved from his own path." "He always followed his own advice and turned soccer upside down." "He opposes the current fashion But that doesn't make him a hero... because he never risked his life." "It wasn't a sacrifice." "He put his talent into practice." "He didn't suffer." "On the contrary, his life's motto was:" "Enjoy life." "A hero who doesn't suffer, is no real hero." "If I had to choose a moment from my life that is tied to Cruijff..." "I'd have to go back to my youth in France." "I didn't know Barça." "I wasn't their supporter." "But I discovered Cruijff in 1969, when I was 9 years old." "I was a big fan of that Ajax player..." "And of the spectacular soccer machine that was Ajax at that time." "In 1971 I moved to Barcelona." "When Barça contracted him in 1973, it seemed like a dream come true." "I was on my way to school one day..." "And got hit by a car." "Nothing serious, I got away without too many injuries." "Six months later I came out of my house..." "A Maserati Citroën comes around the corner..." "And just missed hitting me." "The car brakes, I fall down and look up:" "Johan Cruijff." "Too bad, I thought." "Six months ago I get hit by someone unknown." "If it would have been Cruijff, he would have owed me..." "He would have made me famous in the neighborhood." "At that time you were so fanatically worshipping your idol... you'd have given anything to be run over by him." "I'd gladly have broken a leg, just to be close to him for a while." "But he stopped the car just in time." "Now I'll explain how Cruijff scored that one fantastic goal." "He wasn't as old as I am now..." "But I'll try anyway." "I'll keep it simple." "This is the soccer field of Barça." "This I put here." "That's the goal." "This is mister Cruijff." "The ball is missing." "Ok, this little pill is the ball." "Mister Cruijff approaches from the left with the ball." "He runs that way..." "Three defenders come up to him." "He plays the ball through their legs." "He crosses the ball..." "He runs on, receives the ball back..." "Dodges two defenders..." "And goal!" "Where are we going?" " To Madrid." "To Madrid, in a taxi?" "No, to the airport." "What are you going to do in Madrid?" "You had a job in Barcelona, didn't you?" "Do you know the name Butragueño?" " Who doesn't know the Vulture of Madrid?" "He's even got a whole generation of soccer players named after him." "You don't need to know about soccer." "Butragueño put together the legendary 'Dream team' of Madrid." "Yes, that's him." "That's clearly Cruijff." "Johan's classical move." "He gets the ball..." "And stands still." "It seems like the referee has blown the final whistle." "The defence doesn't know how to react." "'See you later'..." "And he stops again." "He attacks like a snake." "Unexpectedly from standstill." "Which of Johan's moves did you want to copy?" "Johan had a very special way of quickening his pace." "I have always wanted to do that." "He knew how to guide his fellow players like no other." "But especially his changes of speed were what made him unique." "But here in Madrid you could never say that you admired Cruijff?" "I always said that Cruijff was my idol." "I believe that in life people should be honest about their beliefs." "Fidelity is a virtue that one should feel very strongly about." "But I don't betray Real Madrid by saying that Cruijff was my idol." "If that's the conclusion you're very narrow-minded..." "And you lack insight." "Not worthy of a club like Real Madrid." "What is your 'given moment'?" "The world championship of 1974." "That action in the finals was so surprising to me, so magical..." "My admiration for Johan Cruijff got even bigger." "He increases his pace twice in 45 metres..." "Enough to completely disorient his opponent." "Berti Vogt fouls his opponent, I think frustrated because he was too late..." "And that results in a penalty" "That action has been stamped on my memory forever." "It didn't change my life..." "But Cruijff showed me with this action, he demonstrated to me..." "What soccer basically is." "I was 11 years old at the time and I still remember that action." "Soccer is an expression of what's inside of you." "You step into the field..." "To show who you are, to show your personality." "And in some way..." "Art is able to..." "Unburden the soul of the spectator." "A painting, a play, a poem can make this happen." "You feel much lighter, relieved by pure bliss." "Soccer makes you feel like that." "It puts your imagination to work." "A feeling greater than admiration..." "That can be compared to looking at art." "Soccer is an expression of beauty." "Diego, what did you want to be, soccer player or flamenco artist?" "Soccer player." "My poor father..." "I used to fight with him..." "Because he wanted me to be a flamenco guitar player." "But I was only interested in soccer." "I only wanted to play soccer." "Can you compare Johan Cruijff's style of playing soccer..." "To flamenco?" "They resemble each other..." "Flamenco is very rich in..." "Its enormous variety in rhythms." "Special rhythms..." "Profound rhythms and changes in tempo." "That's what I see in Cruijff too." "I think he invented the 'duende' in soccer." "His gracefulness..." "The way he... fills space with his movements and dominates it..." "His cross passes, the way he stops..." "That is duende." "I'm sure." "An unforgettable morning at Amsterdam airport where Cruijff leaves... for Barcelona to sign his contract." "Cruijff feels certain..." "He can restore Barça's social and sportive image." "The Dutchman arrived at 1 p.m. at the Prat airport." "After hours of negotiation Cruijff and chairman Núñez reached an agreement." "At 7 p.m. Cruijff announced that he would be trainer of Barça..." "And the sole responsible for the line-up." "A famous 'Johan-moment' that I would like to re-enact..." "Took place May 20th 1992." "I remember clearly." "It happened in Wembley stadium." "We were in the 11th minute." "We were awarded a free kick." "Foul play against Eusebio." "Those are the advertising signs..." "That divide the bench from the field." "Johan is sitting there." "They get awarded a free kick." "Johan watches from the dug-out." "Ronald Koeman, assisted by Bakero and Stoichkov..." "Takes the free kick." "We're in the 11th minute of the match..." "And goal for Barça." "Johan gets to his feet..." "He jumps over the advertising signs, gets stuck for a moment..." "And while everybody is beside themselves with joy because of the goal..." "He coolly directs the last 10 minutes of the match from the sideline." "Our only European Cup until now." "How would you characterize your relationship with Cruijff, as love or friendship?" "Before I met Johan, I had a good life..." "But from the moment I met him..." "That January 5th 1988..." "My life took on another dimension." "In many ways." "Johan taught me many things..." "That I could apply in my own life..." "And were a benefit to my personal development." "It was January 4th 1988." "I passed by the newspaper's office that afternoon." "A telex arrived, there was no internet at the time." "I remember the boy who came in with the telex very well." "He walks into the sports editorial office..." "And reads aloud:" "Johan Cruijff has left Ajax." "He leaves the telex with us." "In that time Barça was at an all-time low..." "And we all had the same thought:" "He has to come to Barça as trainer." "The big question at the sports section was:" "Who will go to Holland to do a report?" "In the end, I was the lucky one." "It was a beautiful winter day." "I had a photographer with me, Jaume Amor." "We didn't know where he lived, we didn't know anything." "We arrived in a village, Vinkeveen." "It was a very cold day, really getting beyond a joke." "If you opened the car window to ask for directions, you'd freeze." "In the village, we asked a few people..." "And of course everyone knew where Cruijff lived." "We rang the bell at a gate, and I see two Doberman pinchers storming out... followed by his wife, Danny." "She opens the gate and asks:" "Yes?" "'We came from Barcelona for an interview with Johan'." "'Did he call you?" "'" "'No, but we heard that he is leaving Ajax...'" "And she answers, rather sharply:" "If my husband doesn't grant interviews to Dutch journalists..." "Why would he talk to you?" "Silence." "She turns around to go back inside." "There we are, in the middle of the street." "What to do?" "I remember I thought:" "That's it, end of story..." "And then I suddenly remember a sentence..." "That I often remembered again:" "But madam, it's freezing cold outside." "I see a little smile on her lips and she says:" "You can forget about the interview, but you can have a cup of tea." "And I think:" "Once I'm inside..." "I won't leave before I get that interview." "We walk through the garden and enter the villa." "There Johan sits on a couch." "There's a fireplace in the middle of the room." "The house looked like a palace." "Johan was talking on the telephone." "When we enter the room, he looks up and greets us..." "Gesturing like he has known us for years." "Danny goes to make tea, Cruijff continues his telephone conversation." "When Danny puts the tea in front of us, the photographer wants to take a sip." "I grab his arm and say:" "Ho, stop." "Don't touch that cup." "Not one sip of tea." "As long as that cup is full, we're sitting inside." "When the tea is finished, we'll have to go." "Johan joins us..." "Really relaxed, like we've known each other for years." "'Hi there." "How are you?" "'" "'I won't comment on my leaving Ajax, but we can still have a talk'." "We start talking about Barça." "At some point he stands up to show something, typically Johan." "'That Barça keeper should leave his goal for a meter further.'" "'That's the way to minimize the open space in the goal area...'" "'And the problem is solved'." "'If I were to come to Barcelona, I'd do this and that...'" "My only thought was:" "Please God, let that man come to Barça." "Open the door as wide as you can." "Ferrán, old bloke, how are you doing?" "If you are in Barcelona..." "We could have dinner at Fermí's in Drolma." "Good, give me a call when you are here." "We'll agree on a time to meet, ok?" "See you later." "Hello." "To the Majestic." " All right." "You had a good trip?" " A bit long." "Let them finish that high-speed rail link." "Are you from Valencia?" "I'm exhausted." "Did you see the match?" " Bits and pieces." "They'd better not make the finals, they'll be slaughtered." "'Fatted to die', isn't that what they say in Spanish?" "I hope they don't make the finals, they won't be humiliated." "But it would be great if they taught Madrid a lesson." "In the finals?" " Yes, that would be sweet revenge." "I'm not a supporter of Valencia, I'm with Barça." "And you, you're with Valencia?" "No, Madrid." " You're serious?" "You're joking." "Of all taxi's I had to pick you." "You set me up." " No, it's pure coincidence." "All taxi drivers are Madrid supporters." " To each his own, is what I say." "You're like the Japanese, they pop up everywhere." "At least now we can discuss it." "That was unthinkable 3 years ago." "You have an easy time supporting the government's team." "You supported Franco's team, now you're still with the government." "It's easy supporting Madrid." "Barcelona or Valencia, that's difficult." "Here we are." "I wish you the best and Real Madrid the worst." "Goodbye." "It's strange..." "Whenever we meet, we always talk about Johan Cruijff." "What I find so special about him, is the way he expresses himself." "Take 'at a given moment'." "You know that saying?" "Yes, but that is weird Spanish." "Cruijff introduced it here." "Exactly." "A famous guy with no talent for languages." "That's so funny about Johan." "His strange phrases..." "Enriched our vocabulary." "'At a given moment', 'arroundings', 'bumpy goose'..." "Have become famous expressions..." "To describe certain situations." "Normally you'd say:" "what idiot came up with that?" "They asked Johan once to say something in Catalan." "He thought for a moment and said in Spanish:" "Hola." "I show one of Johan's moves that everyone recognizes immediately." "I'll try one more time." "This is Romario." "He scores our goals." "Without him we don't win." "Andrian Marín, our chief cook." "Danny Padró." "He could be Laudrup, because of his style." "Oscar could be Stoichkov." "He's got the same lousy mood." "We identify with Johan while working in the kitchen..." "Because this is also a high pressure job and very stressful." "We don't have time to complain, or swear." "Here in the kitchen I applied Cruijff's methods in two ways." "His way of thinking is very visible here." "Especially in the way the kitchen of Droma has been organized." "We started this company as a project with people that believe in it." "We don't hire people on the spot." "You start working here and after 4 years you decide to stay, or not." "You stick to the style." "If you don't like this game, you leave." "It's not about money, but about how you deal with this profession." "Like professional soccer, this is a job you have to do with passion." "You can consider yourself fortunate in this job." "It's not a punishment." "But it takes, like Johan demanded from his team..." "Highly qualified technical people." "Not just one person for the starters, the fish or the meat." "Those times are over." "Everyone works here in shifts." "Those shifts get a kind of player's number." "I don't care who has which number." "An employee works 4 out of 8 hours at his specialty." "The other 4 hours you're a total soccer player." "This work model is based on Cruijff's system..." "And it really functions well." "Did Johan ever make you cry?" "Yes, more than once." "Especially as a trainer..." "But also as a player, when he scored the goal against Atlético Madrid." "'Bumpy goose'.... absolutely." "But absolute 'bumpy goose' was..." "The first half of the match Barcelona" " Dynamo Kiev: 4-1." "I've never seen anything like it again." "Like I can move a customer with my cooking..." "So I felt ecstasy at that great match." "The most beautiful 45 soccer minutes that mankind ever watched." "Johan's favorite food:" "Cannelloni filled with pheasant and black truffles." "If you'd excuse me now, I'll serve this to two friends of mine." "Romario takes the ball." "He wants to do it alone." "Panamarenko wants to intervene, but Barça takes the ball." "Koeman passes to Laudrup." "Laudrup takes the lead." "The ball to Romario." "Take care." "He hit the post!" "Fast as a rocket." "Guardiola asks for the ball." "Barça in the counterattack." "Laudrup to Bakero on the right." "He's looking for Romario." "Romario gives it to Laudrup..." "Goal." "The first one is in." "So far so good." "Laudrup to Txiki." "Txiki continues, Txiki hits...wide" "Nadal looks for Romario, flick header to Bakero." "Right at the goalkeeper." "Koeman to Bakero." "Guardiola." "Romario at the edge of the penalty box" "Romario is going to score..." "Missed." "Txiki gets the ball." "He hits..." "And again stopped by the goalkeeper." "Txiki to Laudrup." "Laudrup back to Txiki." "Not offside, Txiki to Bakero..." "Goal." "Fermi, explain to us..." "Yes, I will." "This is Johan's favorite food." "Angel of God." "Johan would really enjoy this, if he were here." "I leave you to it." "Bon appétit." "I'll show you one of Johan Cruijff's actions..." "Which has a special meaning to me." "I hope I don't make a fool of myself." "In front of the clinic it's swarming with radio and television journalists..." "And people who want to know more about Johan Cruijff's situation." "Taking into account the type of disease..." "And the current physical state of the patient..." "The medical and surgical team of our hospital have decided..." "After mutual deliberation to perform..." "A bypass operation on Johan Cruijff." "One could say..." "That you are one of the few people..." "That touched the heart of Johan Cruijff." "That's true." "To remedy his disease..." "A team, consisting of surgeon Bonin and anaesthetist Buson..." "And me as a heart surgeon, operated on Johan Cruijff." "Could you show me the poster?" " Yes, I've got one here." "That's it." "I don't know if you can see it?" "I am Johan Cruijff." "In my life I have been addicted to two things:" "Smoking and soccer." "In my relationship with Cruijff there have been some special moments." "One of them is the attitude of Cruijff towards his illness..." "That was already recommended by Hippocrates, 2000 years ago..." "To speed up the healing process." "I'm sure Cruijff never read Hippocrates." "But he found, completely by himself, a way... to fight the disease and recuperate faster." "When he found out about his illness, he stayed positive." "He faced the facts and worked hard to restore his health quickly..." "And stay healthy, also after the operation." "That positive attitude is interesting." "Another characteristic of Johan..." "From which I learned a lot and which really impressed me... was his unselfishness." "When he was in our clinic, we asked him to participate... in an anti-smoking campaign." "We also proposed this to Dr. Trias, who was head of Health department." "He asked me:" "Are you sure that Johan will quit smoking?" "Won't we make the same mistake with this anti-smoking campaign..." "As the anti-drugs campaign they did with Maradona?" "I assured him that Johan would achieve what he had set out to do." "Which turned out true." "I am Johan Cruijff." "In my life I have been addicted to two things:" "Smoking and soccer." "Soccer gave me everything in this life." "Smoking almost took it away." "The truffles are like the Dream team." "Ferrán, I already told you all about my 'Cruijff-moments'." "Now it's your turn." "Which moment is the most beautiful?" "Tell me." "Koeman scores in the overtime against Sampdoria in the Wembley stadium." "That enormous release of joy and happiness." "He jumps over the advertising signs in a hurry." "You see him thinking:" "I won't let this moment pass." "He jumps over those signs, that's the image I remember always." "Even more than Koeman's goal." "Why?" "Because it's a moment of gratefulness." "After years of suffering and hardship, finally our luck arrives." "One goal and then: total euphoria." "After minute 111 Catalonia has a party." "Thousands of people celebrate Barça's first European Cup in the streets today." "At the airport, the cathedral, the city hall, and Camp Nou..." "Everywhere this historic victory is celebrated." "The players dedicate their cup to the 'Virgin of Forgiveness' of Barcelona." "This is the first time Barcelona won the European Cup." "At this moment the players of Barça are standing at the balcony of city hall." "Cruijff gets the microphone to talk to the happy fans." "...un momento dado...un momento dado..." "We have..." "You have to say 'un momento dado'." "We have..." "Yes, I know..." "At a given moment..." "Johan Cruijff's famous saying:" "en un momento dado..." "We've got the first one and the second will come soon!" "Guardiola." "Foul play by Guardiola." "Guardiola is booked for the second time" "And at that moment the whistle blows." "End of match." "What a punishment for Barça." "Zaragoza versus Barcelona 6-3." "Barcelona only gained one point from the last four matches." "February..." "Yes, it was mid February 1994." "Why February?" "Because it's the time of the calzotada, an eating holiday..." "In which calzots, a kind of onion, are eaten..." "With a romesco sauce." "It's the time to get together with the family." "After the calzots, which are truly damn good..." "We eat grilled meat." "Standing next to the barbecue, the first thing you ask is:" "How did Barça do?" "'Man, you don't want to know'." "'Lost 6 to 3'." "'No, you're joking!" "'" "'No, really." "Zaragoza won with 6-3 from Barcelona." "'Jesus...' What will I do first?" "Eat or Barça?" "No, Barça comes first." "So I leave my family with the meat and onions..." "And sit outside in my father's old car." "I turn on the radio and increase the volume." "The first thing I hear is..." "Johan Cruijff, answering questions during a press conference..." "Or maybe it was just after the match when they leave the field." "They ask him what he thinks of this defeat." "And Cruijff says:" "Thanks to this defeat we will win the Liga." "Another trainer would do penitence and explain himself." "The beauty is, they did win the Liga." "With 15 more matches to go and 9 points behind." "Cruijff's words gave me hope." "'Thanks to this defeat, we will win'." "At that time, I broke up with my girlfriend..." "And I often thought of that sentence." "I applied it to my own life, to my own loss." "I lost the woman that was so important to me." "But I learned my lesson." "If you learn from your losses..." "You end op being the winner." "And even if it's not with the same woman..." "If victory comes, it tastes even sweeter." "You have to find the good things in a defeat." "Cruijff gave me the wisdom..." "That I will carry the rest of my life." "Only a few more minutes to go, in Camp Nou and in Riazor stadium." "The board of Barcelona follow the match in Riazor on the radio." "Change." "Romario out." "Koeman in." "Applause for Romario." "With 30 goals top scorer of the Spanish Liga." "Worried faces in the executive box." "Eusebio feels good today." "A long pass from Goikoetxea to Bakero..." "Bakero scores." "Goal." "Goal by José Mari Bakero." "42 minutes in the second half:" "5-2 and it's a party!" "Penalty in the Riazor stadium..." "In the final moments of the match there." "Despair in the dug-out of Barcelona..." "Because if Deportivo scores, they will be champion." "Let's pray they miss." "It won't be Barça's fault today here in Camp Nou." "The decision will be made in the Riazor." "Bakero conquers the ball." "Oh God, we're finished." "An explosion of happiness..." "Deportivo missed." "Score is still 0-0." "Camp Nou almost explodes with happiness." "What a final." "Barcelona champion for the third time at the last match of the season." "Four times in a row." "Thanks to Cruijff." "Koeman takes a free kick." "The referee whistles." "It's over." "Barcelona is champion of the Liga." "Núñez is extremely happy." "The score in Camp Nou:" "Barcelona 5 Sevilla 2." "But the most important, in Riazor:" "Deportivo against Valencia 0-0." "Barcelona is champion of the season '93-'94." "If Cruijff needed time to think about a question, he did this:" "'This is one, but...'" "In his final years as trainer with Barça Cruijff played a big part..." "In the tension in the team due to his extravagant policy..." "His choice of players, and his working methods." "If you compare, it comes very close to..." "Emperor Nero who burns down his own city, Rome." "Cruijff blew up his own work." "He didn't have a vision." "Quality had always been his trademark, but now he's the king of mediocrity." "The players didn't reach the levels they used to." "In the second Europa Cup finals, which they lost..." "He started to fire some Barça players..." "Who excelled later with other clubs, so why not with Barça." "Cruijff burned down his work to build something new." "He would have succeeded probably, but they didn't give him enough time." "There's something to say for his philosophy..." "But not for his methods." "You don't know yet?" " No." "It's not because of the bad results, but the board has enough..." "Of you meddling with their business and that you..." "I've said I won't give a statement." "They say you might be fired this afternoon." "I'll see." "So you don't know?" " I don't know anything." "Johan left a great void." "The day Johan left..." "As Barça's trainer, we felt a huge emptiness." "Cruijff's departure was the cause of a social rupture..." "In all the ranks of the fans of Barça." "Because the board had chosen a strategy..." "To blame Johan systematically in the press." "But the majority of the supporters, the members of Barça..." "Basically everyone, kept supporting Johan." "That's how we knew something serious happened..." "Something had been destroyed forever." "It's not very loyal to a team..." "When the own son has privileges that are denied to the other players." "A short-term contract, so the club would have to pay if he left." "That's the way mister Cruijff led the club." "It's like that." "I never complained." "I've tried to work with him as well as possible." "He always had my admiration and support." "I did not get much in return." "1988-1996 AVE JOHAN" "CRUIJFF EIGHT YEARS OF TRIUMPH" "CRUIJFF WE LOVE YOU" "CRUIJFF FOREVER" "At a certain moment..." "After his traumatic goodbye, I felt my heart winning from my head." "I became a 'Cruijffist'" "Then the day of Cruijff's homage came." "That was such a magical evening..." "It really gave me 'bumpy goose'." "You saw people cry everywhere, overcome by their emotions." "When Cruijff walked into the field to thank the people..." "I thought:" "No, my gratitude is a thousand times bigger." "My presence in the stadium, as one among thousands..." "Was my little gesture of showing him my gratitude." "The biggest moment..." "Even bigger than the European Cup, the Liga's..." "More intense than all the victories or even the time of his heart surgery..." "Was the day of that homage." "When it started..." "I was in the stadium's catacombs 45 minutes before it started." "And I called him over:" "Have a look at the amount of people." "Cruijff looks up into the stadium." "It was indescribable." "The stadium was filled to the brim." "Banners everywhere." "The atmosphere was exciting..." "The stands full of families:" "children, grown-ups, grandparents." "It couldn't hold more people." "I see Johan standing there..." "He couldn't control his emotions anymore." "But he comes walking back as if nothing had happened." "Then the players go into the field." "They enter the field of the full Camp Nou one by one..." "Everyone waiting in a festive mood..." "For the spectacle to start." "And there he is, the last one to enter:" "Johan Cruijff." "Good evening, everyone." "Only God knows..." "How long we had to wait for this fantastic moment." "But there was more, even though this was already unsurpassable." "The great match that had been played." "Normally everyone leaves the stadium." "But this time the people stayed in their seats." "In the centre circle some sort of ceremony was improvised." "And there in the centre field, without the public seeing him..." "Something snaps inside Johan Cruijff." "It does." "Because, for the first time in his life..." "He couldn't keep control in his own hands." "The players walk to the centre field." "Bakero is wearing the Barça emblem on a string around his neck..." "And he kisses it repeatedly." "José Mari Bakero." "Bakero calls his trainer Johan Cruijff to the centre field..." "Who is placing his players..." "Like he used to do before." "Johan waves to his colleagues, the crowd gives him a standing ovation." "The former Dream team players stand around him in a circle." "Johan..." "Johan..." "Do you remember the moment in 1973..." "Of your arrival at Barcelona airport?" "It was unforgettable." "Soccer here wasn't just a game..." "It was also politics." "Soccer was an outlet..." "Something to pride yourself in." "Two things I will never forget." "I remember them still." "First that enormous mass of people at the airport..." "And the huge expectations and hope about what I would do." "Then, end 1973 we won the Liga..." "Without losing even one match." "Winning the Liga in itself was spectacular." "It was remarkable that people didn't say 'congratulations', but 'thank you'." "From that moment I started to understand..." "More about the Catalan character, their way of life." "After 30 years I know the Catalan people a bit..." "But then, I knew nothing." "Little by little I learned what the Catalans are made of." "Were you angry when the board of Barça dumped you?" "You can say that again." "Because everything that had to be done, was done at the time." "The lines were clear." "I was used to taking decisions between January and April." "So when they came and fired me in May..." "I had already set my course." "What's more, there was no danger." "Nothing to worry about." "So, not being able to finish the season after so many years..." "As trainer or as player, you know you will have to leave one time." "That wasn't the problem." "You know your turn will come." "If not today, then tomorrow." "But it was the way they did it." "They tried with all their might..." "To destroy me as a human being." "Why kick someone out just before the end of the Liga?" "We only had two more matches to go, or something like that." "It was totally absurd and unfounded, what they did." "But I had attacked this mentality often before." "You shouldn't damage someone's reputation just to fire him." "You shouldn't." "So yes, I felt angry." "But I always tried to remain myself ..." "And to show how one should behave." "What did you feel during the homage?" "That was a very special day." "For many reasons." "If I'm not mistaken, that ceremony took place end of 1999." "And I left Barcelona in 1996." "That was in my contract." "They always found another excuse to postpone my farewell." "The moment I left Barcelona... they kicked me while I was down and tried to discredit me." "They also diminished everything that the Dream team had done." "The Dream team wasn't only me." "All the players did a lot for Barcelona in those times." "So when they organized that match, it wasn't only for me..." "It was a tribute to that group that had brought so much fun to Barcelona." "Not only by winning cups and prizes, but also by who they were." "When I took the microphone to say something..." "The 'junta' of Barça was terrified." "But why would I spoil a nice evening like that?" "I'll never understand that mentality." "Were you moved?" "I control myself pretty well." "Of course, when you look back later on television or video..." "You realize its importance." "At the moment itself you're just there." "Feelings come later." "At that moment I my only thought was:" "How am I going to do this?" "What makes someone a hero?" "Do the bad times play a role?" " Everything a bit." "Did you go through bad times?" " Of course." "In my private life, for instance." "I lost both my fathers when I was young." "My mother is still alive." "She's 85 now." "My biological father died when I was 12." "And my second father, who also was an exceptional man..." "I lost when I was 35." "These things leave their traces." "And then of course, there's the tragedies that happen in sports." "The world cup of '74." "Being the best team and still losing." "That's why the impression you leave behind is so important to me." "The people have to enjoy themselves." "Even now, when I do an interview with foreign journalists..." "They all tell me:" "What a shame you lost then." "We have become more famous by that defeat than by a victory." "Those things are important to your personal development." "When my father died, my mother had to go working." "That's what happened in those times." "She went to work for Ajax." "She cleaned the dressing rooms." "When I walk into a dressing room, I still get that special feeling." "It's not only the place to change or make a mess." "I respect the people working there..." "Because it was my mother's job." "To me, the dressing room still is some kind of sacred space." "Those things shape you as a human being." "Did you talk to your father after his death?" " Of course." "When I passed the graveyard on my bike, going to school..." "I told him things, I asked for his advice, that kind of things." "I imagined he helped me." "Puberty is difficult for all children..." "I was no exception..." "So it's good to unburden your soul with someone." "You've said one time:" "The right moment is an unassailable moment." "In all stages of life there is 'the moment'." "The soccer rule is:" "You're either on time, or you're too early or too late." "The trick is to be exactly where you need to be at the right moment." "That's a quality you either have, or you don't." "The ones who have it, rise above the rest." "They yield better results, to put it like that." "In my private life there have been many moments that influenced me." "The death of my father was such a moment." "You feel your life changing." "Another crucial moment in my life..." "Happened when I was twenty-something." "You earn some money, fame comes." "What happens?" "I married my wife, I'm still married to her." "The kids came." "There were not many possibilities to go wrong." "That's another important moment in your life." "If I would have done something wrong at that time..." "Something stupid, who knows how things would have turned out." "The birth of your son, was that such a moment?" "Yes, that was a crazy time." "It was February 1974." "Our third child was on its way." "We were here only 6 months." "Jordi was being born." "He was born by cesarean." "February 15th we played in Madrid, against Real." "The baby was due the 15th." "Trainer Michels came up to me:" "Look, can't it be born a bit earlier?" "It was an important match." "No one had any objections." "So my wife got the operation on the 9th..." "So I could play the match against Madrid." "That was the legendary 0-5 victory..." "Immediately after the birth of my son." "A big coincidence, given by life." "It's something you'll never forget." "Something else happened, we didn't know at the time..." "We got to know the Catalan people by now..." "But then we really didn't know what was happening here at all." "We decided to name our son Jordi." "We just liked the name." "No reason." "We didn't know it was such an emotionally charged name." "You didn't know what it meant?" "We had only been here 6 months." "And I only cared about soccer." "I had no time for other things." "That was another important moment in my life." "Naming my son Jordi." "When I came to the city hall, to register my son..." "I didn't know it was forbidden." "'No, I'll just call my son Jordi', I said to the civil servant." "'Find yourself another name'." " 'Why?" "'" "'We are Dutch, we just like the name Jordi'." "'It's Jorge'." " 'No, Jordi'." "These kinds of things turn your life around, they bring you luck." "It was the reason they liked me here from the start." "And still do." "Now give me one moment, the ultimate time in your life that..." "I really can't." "There's too many moments." "It would be a mistake to choose only one..." "Because I would nullify the others." "I can't choose only one moment, not in my private life, nor in sports." "Not even..." "Not even my most painful moment." "I lost both my fathers." "It is especially painful when you're young." "But the loss of my second father I also remember very well." "I was 35 at the time..." "I felt so hurt that for a few months I lost it completely." "I can't choose." "I can't choose between my three children." "I can choose my wife, because I've still got her." "I can't even choose a moment of soccer." "I had such a wonderful and happy time..." "As a player and as a trainer." "I preferred being a player always." "Being a trainer came second." "But all the beautiful moments we had together..." "Are irreplaceable and more important than the sad moments." "Looking back I have a sunny outlook." "I'm sorry. 'The given moment' has been one of my expressions..." "That took on its own life, like 'rondo'..." "But I won't choose one moment."