West Ham's Edson Álvarez Interview courtesy of Paramount+
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00:00 How is your life here in London? Do you like the weather, the food, do you go to the pubs?
00:07 How is life in England?
00:10 If I'm being honest, my life is focused on football, on my recovery, on what I have to do.
00:17 I play every three days, so it's not like I have the energy to go out and walk around the city every day.
00:25 I'm so focused on what I have to do that I prefer to stay home and recover.
00:31 Obviously when there's the opportunity to go out for dinner, I do it.
00:36 But right now my head is 100% focused on football, on giving as much as I can.
00:43 But I love life here. I love it.
00:46 It's difficult in these moments when the sun goes down at 3.30pm and it's a bit depressing.
00:54 But you have to fight against all of that.
00:56 What places do you like? What places have you had the opportunity to visit in London?
01:01 Any touristy places or restaurants that have caught your attention?
01:07 Obviously the whole city centre, the Epica area, the Elysir, the Vick, the Relog.
01:12 All of those places, the restaurants that are around there are very good.
01:16 I haven't had the opportunity to do many tours, for the same reason I've mentioned.
01:21 But I have done it and I'd like to continue to do it.
01:27 Perfect. You've already scored your first goal with the club.
01:31 What did you feel when you scored your first goal with West Ham?
01:36 Emotion, happiness. It's always nice to debut with your new team.
01:41 The same with Ajax, it was one of my first games when I was able to do it.
01:46 I was very happy and I think it's a bonus to be able to do it at home, in your stadium with your fans.
01:54 I hope I can come back here more often.
01:57 What about David Moyes? He gave you a new nickname, you confessed to us the other day that everyone calls you Eddie.
02:02 You have more time to work with him. How is it?
02:06 I think the relationship with him is also growing day by day.
02:12 The trust that he has in me and that we have created is increasing.
02:19 With my performances on the pitch, I think I give him enough weapons to keep doing it.
02:27 The relationship is going well.
02:31 When you were a U.S. player, did you dream of playing in the Premier League?
02:37 Yes, I think it's the aspiration of any player.
02:44 From my point of view, I always thought about it and I always worked for it.
02:54 I'm going to give you some names and you're going to have to define them with just one word.
02:59 David Moyes.
03:00 Tactical.
03:01 Lucas Paqueta.
03:03 Different.
03:04 Jimmy Lozano.
03:05 Human.
03:06 Cuauhtémoc Blanco.
03:07 In my personal life, an idol.
03:09 Estadio Azteca.
03:10 History.
03:11 Jorge, you're talking about the U.S.A. team at 14.
03:15 And a message for Miguel Ayun, who is going to retire.
03:19 Yesterday was his last game as a professional footballer.
03:22 In this position, I'm a fan of the team.
03:26 I will always be grateful.
03:28 It's the club where I was trained and where I gave my all.
03:32 I'm not going to make an analysis of the game.
03:36 I'm just very happy with the achievement of the institution.
03:39 I think that after the great tournament they did, they deserve it.
03:43 And for Ayun, he knows everything I respect and admire him for.
03:47 His career, his career.
03:49 It was a difficult moment for him.
03:51 I imagine for him, to say goodbye to the fields.
03:54 But I think he's going to be very calm with the U.S.A. team and everything he did in his career.
04:00 And I wish him the best in his future projects.
04:03 Perfect.
04:04 Daniel asks, "What is the most difficult thing about being in a team like West Ham?"
04:09 The training sessions, or something.
04:12 I think that in West Ham and in general in this league,
04:16 the intensity, I've always said it and I will maintain it.
04:19 The intensity with which the games are played is incredible.
04:23 And after being in an institution like West Ham,
04:26 I feel it in every game as a local.
04:30 And when we go to visit people, people never leave you.
04:34 People are always with you.
04:36 In the good times, in the bad times, I've always felt that they are with us.
04:41 Here are some videos that some friends send us.
04:45 Mano, how are you?
04:47 Everything good?
04:48 I see you very well in the team.
04:51 I don't know how you see it.
04:53 I would like to be the team captain.
04:56 I would love to see you with the cap.
05:00 And I'm waiting for my t-shirt that you've been owing me for a long time.
05:05 I send you a hug.
05:07 Greetings Larita. I also send you a hug.
05:09 See you soon.
05:10 Hugo asks, "Do you want to be the West Ham captain?"
05:16 I think it's too soon.
05:18 There are players with a lot of hierarchy, with a lot of experience.
05:22 Step by step.
05:24 It's nice to see Hugo.
05:26 We still have a lot of contact through WhatsApp and social media.
05:31 Perfect. Last video, last message.
05:33 Another friend.
05:34 How are you, Edson?
05:36 Now that you're in the best league in the world, the English league,
05:40 have you ever thought of being in the best league in the galaxy, the Kings League,
05:45 with Peluche Caligari?
05:47 Yes.
05:48 I also saw a great friend. We also have a lot of contact through Instagram.
05:53 It's cool that the Kings League is emerging and that they're taking it to Mexico.
05:58 Opportunities are opening up, whether you like it or not, for young people in our country
06:03 so that they can show their talent.
06:05 I'm waiting for the invitation.
06:07 What does success mean to you?
06:10 Good question.
06:11 For me, success is being able to share it with the people you love.
06:17 That's success.
06:19 For me, for my parents, my brothers, my daughters, my wife to see me
06:26 and be able to share all my experiences with them,
06:30 to be able to take them to every game,
06:32 for them to live this dream through me,
06:35 that's success.
06:36 To all the young people, to all the kids who want to dream, to be like you,
06:40 what advice would you give them to always fight for their dreams?
06:45 I think there are a lot of excuses in Mexico.
06:48 I see a lot of things.
06:51 I wouldn't dare say that you ask for money, a lot of things.
06:58 Obviously, I don't doubt that it happens in some scenarios, I don't know.
07:04 But life isn't easy.
07:06 A lot of times a door closes for you, but you have to fight for another to open.
07:10 In the end, I feel like they are excuses that don't let you grow.
07:15 If I had stayed in the first division, that they kicked me out of Pachuca
07:19 and I had stayed there all my life regretting that,
07:22 I don't think I would be where I am now.
07:25 So, going back to your question,
07:30 stop putting yourself in a situation where you have to make excuses
07:34 because all of that is in your head.
07:36 Keep trying until you get it.
07:39 Obviously, there comes a time when you have to decide what is best for your life.
07:43 But as long as you are healthy and well, there is always an opportunity.
07:49 Before you become a good athlete, be a good human being.
07:55 The world needs that.
07:58 We wish you all the success in the season.
08:00 Machin, Eddie, how do you like it better to be called?
08:03 As you want.
08:06 But for my people and my neighborhood, I will always be called Machin.
08:10 Machin, thank you for your time and all the success in the campaign.