15 November 2004
Michael Owen Press Conference

 Click here to download Windows Media Player.

 
Michael Owen believes he has proved his critics wrong in Madrid and now he wants to become England’s all-time record goalscorer!

Owen suffered some difficult headlines when he made a stuttering start to his Real Madrid career earlier this season, but now things are very different.

Since he scored for the Three Lions against Azerbaijan his world has changed dramatically, with six goals for Madrid in eight games.

Now he is preparing to take on Spain at the Bernabeu on Wednesday and his thoughts are rapidly turning to England - and the chance to edge closer to a very special record.

Just as captain David Beckham is chasing Sir Bobby Charlton’s total of 106 caps, Owen has his sights firmly set on the Manchester United legend’s record of 49 goals in an England shirt.

"We’re all after Bobby Charlton, aren’t we," he joked. "I think I’m on 28 goals now, so 49 is the record and I turn 25 years old soon. It’s something I would dearly love to get, there’s no hiding that.

"It would be a very big effort to get it - to stay in the team for the next five or six years and to score on a regular basis, which is what is required.

"But it’s obviously there and a target to hit. I will always be thinking of it, that’s true, but until I get into the 40s I won’t think it’s realistic."

That is Owen’s modesty talking, because in truth the former Liverpool man is not only aiming for Charlton’s record - but also has a strong inner belief that he can do it.

"I’m confident in scoring goals until the day I retire," he admitted. "Since I’ve kicked a ball I’ve always scored goals. That’s not the issue. Playing well and staying fit and staying in the team, that’s what it’s about. If I play enough games then I’m confident I could do it."

It has already been suggested that Owen’s move to Madrid will improve him as a player, adding that little bit extra to his game.

But you won’t catch the striker changing his style dramatically as he gets older, and he reckons he has already got the art of goalscoring down to a T!

"I don’t think you will see a 100 per cent change in my game now," said Owen. "I think I will improve slightly coming out here and playing with good players in a different league and different culture. It will round me off a bit more as a player.

"But I don’t think you’ll see me change as a player. The goal is always in the same position and always will be. And the space behind the defence and goalkeeper is always the most dangerous - and that’s what I’ll always go for. I’ll always be the same type of player but hopefully I’ll improve on different aspects of my game."

There is no doubting that Owen has improved as an all-round striker over the last few seasons, though.

In the past he may have relied almost totally on his amazing pace, but these days he is just as likely to score with his head from a David Beckham cross, or to put away a chance with his weaker left foot.

Owen said: "I came into football young and obviously you score your first 50 goals and someone says ‘not many were with his head or his left foot’. What more can you do? You can only try to improve.

"Since The FA Cup Final I’ve practised an awful lot in training on my left foot and on heading and everything else. I think my record with England with my head is a lot different to club level, I seem to score a lot more.

"Overall, I’m scoring goals with all parts of my body now which is a good thing from my point of view. And I’ll keep working hard."

Owen seems to enjoy proving his critics wrong. They were quick to jump on him during his Anfield days whenever he went too many games without a goal, and it was the same on his arrival in Madrid.

But he is adamant he never for a second doubted his own ability - and that is what makes him such a lethal opponent.

"I was perfectly comfortable with myself," he said. "I know how the system works, if you don’t play for a while and don’t score goals you get the questions. People were saying ‘why did you go there to be fourth choice’ and all the rest of it.

"I don’t have to say I told you so, do I? I never thought I had made a wrong decision to come here.

"I said I would fight to the death to succeed. I’ve never shirked a challenge in my life, I’m always confident and totally comfortable that I can do it at this level. I never, ever thought any different.

"I’m not saying it wasn’t difficult to start with, but that was lifestyle wise more than playing. I know I can play, but living in a country where you don’t know anyone, you don’t know the language, that’s the difficult bit.

But on the football pitch, as soon as you cross over that line that’s the place I’m most at ease with myself."

The good news is that Owen is now at ease with himself off the pitch as well. He has his family with him in Madrid and has finally moved out of the hotel that has been his temporary home since August.

"I’ve moved into my house three days ago, so it’s nice to have a base," he said. "I’ve had visitors already coming over for Sunday’s game and they will stay for the England match.

"It’s nice to feel comfortable off the pitch because when you are comfortable with everything in life then you go onto the pitch more focused about your game. The first couple of months was difficult and maybe it showed in my performances. But certainly now things are settling and my performances are improving too."

The new, more relaxed Owen has quickly become a favourite with his Madrid teammates, who appreciate his honest hard-working attitude and his friendly demeanour.

"At first I felt I had to try ever so hard in training," he admits "You are the new lad in the class, so you think all eyes are on you and you can’t put a foot wrong. If you make a mistake you think ‘oh no, everyone’s seen that mistake’.

"Whereas if you have been at a place a couple of years you even laugh at your mistakes - at Liverpool you would get the mick taken out of you if you did something wrong.

"But at a new club to start with you think ‘oh no, they think I’m a bad player’. I’m beginning to lose that now. I feel a lot more free and obviously the more you score goals and the more you integrate with the team the more relaxed you are. I’m very happy here."

That should be good news for Real Madrid in the long-term, but hopefully very bad news for Spain in the short-term!