Noel Gallagher On Manchester City, Jose Mourinho, Mario Balotelli And More

Below is an interview with Noel Gallagher that was recorded in Italy, he talks about Barcelona, Manchester City, Mario Balotelli, Paul Pogba, Jose Mourinho and more.

Thanks to frjdoasis.


Noel Gallagher intervistato su Fox Sports ITA... by frjdoasis

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Noel Gallagher On Mario Balotelli And Brendon Rodgers

Tubes sits down with Noel Gallagher who reminisces over Mario Balotelli's Manchester City exploits, and gives his thoughts on Brendan Rodger's success at Liverpool.

Watch the full interview on Saturday's 'Soccer AM'.



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Noel Gallagher Picks His Fantasy Band Of Footballers

Flamboyance, arrogance, and outrageous talent - some famous footballers down the years have undoubtedly had a lot in common with rock stars.

But how would your favourite players fit into your dream band, where other qualities are needed?

Before his appearance on Sunday's Match of the Day 2, former Oasis lead guitarist and famous Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher chooses his fantasy line-up.

"A lot of footballers these days are squares - to get in my band you need some charisma," Gallagher told BBC Sport.

Eric Cantona and Roy Keane do not make the cut, for various reasons, but George Best is one Manchester United hero who does.

He is joined by Zinedine Zidane (lead guitar), Patrick Vieira (bass guitar) and Mario Balotelli (drums) in an eclectic line-up that Gallagher says he would love to manage.

You can see Gallagher on MOTD2 at 22:30 GMT on BBC One and the BBC Sport website (in the UK). His new solo album Chasing Yesterday is released on 2 March.

Lead guitar - Zinedine Zidane

Noel: The lead guitarist has got to be a wizard and that wizard has got to be Zinedine Zidane.

He would give the band a bit of French flair and, as a player, he was an absolute genius.

Watching him play was like watching a conductor of a symphony and, if push comes to shove, he might be my favourite ever player.

I went to the 2006 World Cup final and people remember his red card, but what they don't remember is the penalty he scored in that game.

He chipped the keeper and it went in off the bar - now that takes some courage.
I was also there when he scored a penalty to beat England at Euro 2004.

There is footage showing where, just before he runs up to take it, he vomits on the penalty spot. Unbelievable.

He was either hungover or he had a bad prawn at half-time, but I can respect him puking up then lashing the ball into the bottom corner.

All that and he smoked 20 cigs a day. He was rock 'n' roll to the core, man.

Bass guitar - Patrick Vieira

Noel: The bass player has got to be solid and reliable - an immovable rock.
I would have Patrick Vieira, because he would have the rhythm as well.

I thought Vieira's old rival Roy Keane was one of the great Premier League players but he is just turning into a major pain now.

Do you reckon he ever laughs out loud? I reckon if he ever belly laughed at anything then he would have to check himself into rehab.

Keane was a great player and what United are missing now, that's for sure. Someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck and drive them on.

But I wouldn't want him in my band - he's not jolly enough. Music is supposed to be fun and you cannot have a miserable git in your band. Oh no, no way.

These characters have got to gel offstage, the same as a football team needs spirit in the dressing room.

And you could not go on tour with Roy Keane. No way would you get on the same bus.

Both of us could not be in the same band. It would be me or him. I'd have to leave.

Drums - Mario Balotelli

Noel: You have got to have a headcase on the drums and Mario could also join in with a rap every now and again.

He's like a modern-day rock star anyway.

Is he the nearest thing we have got to the Liam Gallagher of the Premier League? Oh, for sure.

He's a little bit crazy, a little bit unreliable and a little bit flamboyant. You never know what his hair cut is going to be doing from one day to the next.

Plus he enjoys his social media and is clearly very bad at writing songs - put all of that together and he could be Liam's double.

Mario is a great character but when he played for City, you could never really hang your hat on him and expect to change games for you.

He was more likely to score the third and fourth goals in a 5-0 win. One off his shoulder and the other where he backheels it past the keeper.

I loved him anyway, and I still do. I still have thoughts about him coming back to City at some point.

Vocals - George Best

Noel: In any band, you want a good-looking lad as the singer.

Georgie is my frontman because he was the greatest footballer of all time and he looked cool as well - he was football's first superstar.

I remember he used to have this glass house just outside of Manchester, which became a tourist attraction.

My mum and dad took us there one Sunday and there were loads of people standing on this country road looking over his fence at him watching TV.

Yes, he played for Manchester United but I could never hate him. Everyone loved him.
It was the same with Eric Cantona. All City fans loved him too, he was one of those you wished played for you.

I loved Eric because he was psychedelic. If he was an album, he would be Sgt. Pepper.
Attitude is a rare commodity in football or music and he was a character who had character. You barely get them in society any more, let alone football.

Personality matters as much as who they play for when it comes to the players I like - well, sort of.

When I stood back and admired Cantona, I appreciated his greatness.

But when he was on the pitch I loathed him. When he was scoring the winner against City I wanted to break both his legs.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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Liam Gallagher's Latest Tweets

Stevan Jovetic, welcome to my world LG x

Followed by

Who the fuck is Mario Balotelli LG x

Followed by

Sergio Aguero in 1 on 1 LG x

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Noel Gallagher's Brilliant Mario Balotelli Story

Legendary musician Noel Gallagher joined Jason Cundy and Andy Goldstein on the Sports Bar on Thursday night and told a great story about madcap former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli.

To listen to the clip click here.

Noel Gallagher On Manchester City's 'Crisis' And Balotelli's Future

Noel Gallagher, casts his eye over the latest goings on at the Etihad.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Noel Gallagher On Oasis, Beady Eye, The Future And More

So there we were, sitting in a meeting room at the lovely Four Seasons hotel, talking to Noel Gallagher, the man who gave us anthems such as Wonderwall, Don’t Look Back In Anger, Live Forever, The Importance Of Being Idle, Lyla, The Hindu Times, Go Let It Out, Stand By Me, Shock Of The Lightning and many others.

He’s in town for this year’s Grand Prix, and even though he wasn’t feeling well, still consented to give us time for an interview. And here’s what he had to say, in all it’s uncut* glory.

(*Well, a little bit was cut. For fear of offending people who get offended by expletives, we’ve replaced the expletives with the word “bunny”.) ‘Nuff said. Let’s hop to it…

On whether being solo is freeing…
I’ve not really had the chance to analyse it yet, but when I was making the album I didn’t feel like I was entering a new phase. I feel like that now, because I’ve been on the road and it’s gone well after a year. I don’t sit down and think about such things, if I did that I’d never get anything done. If I thought I was into a Neil Young phase, I’d listen to all his records and then say, “Well I can’t be as good as that, so I’ll bunny retire”.

On knowing success…
But you don’t know that. Nobody can predict that, what’s going to happen. I think that the songs there are up there with the best collection of songs that I’ve written, but it doesn’t matter what I think. People might not have thought that. I was thinking, “I know I can do this, but are people going to be interested enough to watch me sing for one-and-a-half hours”? I don’t do much else.

On Oasis not being a “jump around” band…
That’s what I used to say, but other people in the group thought it was something else. As a songwriter, I have to believe it’s the power of the songs really. And everything else is just a bonus. I think every songwriter will tell you that.

On whether Be Here Now was a good album…
I don’t give a bunny what anybody says. You opinion is… I know that I just made it up as I went along. They’re not the greatest set of lyrics I’ve ever written. I don’t like it. It’s like how people go mad for Wonderwall. Stand by me; I’m not so sure about. But Don’t Go Away, yeah. But as an album I don’t like the sound of it, I don’t like the words – which are bunny – but I just think at the time, I could have done a lot better. I don’t really… I feel like I’ve given all my best songs to the B-sides for all the singles, from Definitely Maybe onwards. I feel like I’ve wasted two albums worth of songs. They came out as The Masterplan, but really, that should have been the third album.

On being nervous about going solo…
I wasn’t nervous about playing. I don’t get stage fright at all. You can’t expect people who’ve pay however much to come and see you and watch a guy who’s scared of being there. That’s bunny all. I was a bit curious and anxious as to what people would think of my thing. I’m rooted to the spot. I can’t balance a tambourine on my head, I don’t wear ludicrous parkas and I don’t have a funny haircut. And there’s a healthy section of my audience that dug that kind of thing. I’ve been vindicated in a way, because my whole thing was “Bunny it”. All I’ve got to give people are the songs, and if people want the razzmatazz and the wacky lights and all that, then they’re going to be disappointed. But I was pleasantly surprised that all the gigs – apart from the first one, which is always the weird one – have been pretty euphoric.

On judging success because Beady Eye put their album out earlier…
After Beady Eye put their record out. At that point we were managed by the same people and I thought, Well, there’s at least that. Because all the people who’ve bought the Beady Eye album are not going to not buy mine. But you can’t predict. For instance, I was listening to their record and I thought I would have put millions on it if I can have a big track off the album, as it turned out it’s been What A Life. So you don’t really know. I’m not going to be arrogant and say this is the bollocks. But you know, the Beady Eye record, they’re lads and they’ve got a great vibe and all that. But sadly, the one thing they don’t got is the songs, you know? And I’ve spent a decade or more trying to convince people that it is – bunny the vibe, if you want the vibe, go to a disco. Ultimately, I think I’ve been proved right.

On George Martin calling Noel the greatest songwriter of his era…
Honestly, it’s great when you see it in print and all that. I sat in a room with him and he asked me to show him how I wrote Wonderwall and he said, it’s great, you know, in his old upper class manner. But I don’t dwell on things like that. It’s great. And if anyone would know about great songwriters, it’d be him, having worked with the two best of all time. But I don’t think that. Otherwise I’d have retired after that. What else would you go after that? I’d have packed my things and gone bunny it. George Martin thinks I really should have been the fifth Beatles, so bunny everybody else. It’s all right if you think that. But if you think that, then you’re not the person to be producing my next album, because you’ve got to go into that with a clean slate. When I was at that NME Awards for that genius award and they showed that clip of George Martin saying that and I’d forgotten about it, but it is a kind of wow moment. You can’t just sit there and think, that’s bunny. Well, I do, sometimes.

On there being no more rock star bands like Oasis…
Oasis was the last of that kind of group. There’s no way, that a band like that – a street band – will go and sell 60 or 70 million albums. It will never happen again. Because the times have changed. People may sell more records, but it won’t just explode from the gutter from nothing. The music business in 1993, when we started, was great. Now it’s just a business and the consumer is king. And for most part, the consumer is an idiot. It won’t happen again. Bands won’t have that attitude any more.

On still performing as a band when he’s old…
I don’t see the nobility or dignity of being in a band and trying to sell that Last Gang In Town thing, when you’re at 103 or however old Mick Jagger is. That doesn’t appeal to me. When I left Oasis and people asked what I was going to do, there was only one real option. I can’t form another band, wear leather jackets and pretend like, “Yeah, we’re a band, man”. It’s just a bunch of grumpy old men, you know?
Me neither. I get asked about it and it annoys the life out of me. My attitude is: Why? Why would we do it? For money? Nobody in the group needs the money. To remind people of how good we were? We split up two years ago. If you didn’t see us, tough bunny. We were going for 20 years and if you didn’t see us, if you were too young, then… come and see me. I’m equally as good! I’ll be dictated to by what I writing. If I carry on writing the way I am, I’ll be compelled to put out album. What else can I do? I don’t see me doing long gruelling world tours like this. That’s a young man’s game. But McCartney’s still going. Neil Young is still going. We’ll see how far McCartney and Neil and Bob Dylan take it, and that’ll be the benchmark. And I go and see McCartney and I think, bunny hell, he’s amazing. But as long as I keep writing the stuff that I like, then I’ll be compelled to go into the studio. But the great thing about this is, if I don’t want to make an album for 10 years. I won’t do it. I’m just going to sit at home and – I don’t know what I’ll do – bunny get on my wife’s nerves. Which I quite enjoy. It depends on what enthusiasm I have for writing. That shows no signs of letting up. I start a million songs a week. Finish one a year! But I still like to write. It’s what I do.

On writing political songs…
I’m never going to write Blowin’ In The Wind. Let’s just say that. But there are lines in songs that sum up life. I know that. But it’ll be hidden in a song. I’ve got a song that I just finished, Dying In The Light – you can probably look it up on the Internet if somebody’s bootlegged it at soundcheck. But I finished it and I thought, yeah, I still can do it. Cigarettes And Alcohol is social commentary. It’s just that if a protest singer wrote it, he’d come and beat you around the head with it. You have to let people discover these things. I’m not one for saying my songs are one thing or another, but they’re just true to me, I guess.

On inspiring other people to do something about their lives…
That makes me incredibly proud. I know that and I’m aware of it. But I don’t sit on a throne and think I’m Caesar. Others might – let’s call them wankers. Paul Weller had the same effect on me. And I know Paul. He’s my neighbour – he lives right across the street from me. And a more down-to-earth, level headed guy, you’ll never meet in your live. The Jam was the Oasis of their day. They defined a generation both in the way they looked and what they thought about and their music still stands up today. He’s a great inspiration. I’m aware that things changed after Definitely Maybe and I know some people were inspired, to write books, form a band or whatever. I know that and it’s great. It means my funeral will be extremely well-attended. But I never sit there and think I’m the bunny bunny.

On his legacy…
My legacy? The music, thank god, will be there forever. It has a timeless quality to it. My legacy as an artiste – for want of a better word – is that I was somebody who inspired other working class people. But I don’t know if that’s true. I only go by what other people say. And the sad thing is I won’t be around to see what my legacy is. That’ll be a shame. I don’t know. Just a bunny good songwriter.

On the way the next Paul Weller or Noel won’t be the same…
I think the gap between Paul leaving the biggest band in England and going on to have an equally successful career as a solo artiste, the gap between him and me is 18 or 20 years from him going solo and me going solo. The gap between me and the next guy, don’t even think about it, it’ll be 50 years. People have side projects now. Nobody actually says, bunny it, I’m done, I’m going for it. They have side projects. People asked me if I had Alex Turner’s solo album and I didn’t even bunny know he had one out. It’s called Submarine or something. But why is he not shouting it from the rooftops? They’ve got a different mentality. It’s a shame, but bunny ‘em, I say.

On not performing at the Olympics…
I thought I was going to be in it. Of course, they asked me to sing Wonderwall. I went quite a far way down the road with it. And leading up to the beginning of the dress rehearsals. They kind of said, “You know, nobody’s playing live”. And I said, “Why?” and they said, “It’s kind of a big gig”. They sang live, they didn’t play live. They wanted me to do acoustic, so I would have to sing live but mime (the playing). And then someone said, “We’d like to do a new string arrangement for it” and I’m like, “Yeah, okay, alright – you know what, I’m going to pass on this” because I don’t like miming and singing live. And I thought, this is going to be too much bunny trouble, so I passed. And then they called up and said, “We’re going to ask Liam” and I said “great – just don’t bunny ask Keane or anybody like that”. I would have been up for doing it, had they bunny let me do it live. But there you go. It’s no big deal. I thought the whole thing was pretty good. Beady Eye? Yeah, they did it justice. They recorded it bunny note for note. I thought it was a difficult thing to sing live while the band is miming. It’s difficult. But I thought it went down pretty well. What can I say?

On whether there’ll be another High Flying Birds album…
I don’t know if that name will exist any more after this. Not for any other reason than I’ve made no plans after this. I’ve got a lot of songs. I’ve still got the other album that I scrapped, the songs off that. And I’ve got other songs leftover and I’m writing some. But I’m not thinking too far ahead. I finish this tour on Nov 12, and then I’ve got a TV thing to do on Nov 22. And after that … I don’t make plans. It’s like when I left Oasis, I didn’t have any plans. People asked and I said I’m not going to do anything. I’m not retired but I have made any plans. I went to bed one night, not thinking of music, I was thinking of what I was going to have for breakfast. And the next morning I woke up and I thought, I have to go back into the studio. I don’t know why that is. At the end of this tour, I’ll sit back and think, well that was great or that was bunny, and just wait for the call.

On the need to continue writing songs…
Financially, there’s no need to travel the world and do this. But you need to do it for yourself. When you’re a writer, there’s a need to get it out there because you gotta make space for more stuff. I’m a slave to it. I have this fear that – I’ve got loads of demos – and I have this fear that I’ll bizarrely die and I’d have left them all to my kids in the will and they’ll get all the glory. The older the get – I mean I’m not in any rush to do anything. I still feel time is one my side. And I don’t want to overplay it. I don’t think people want another album from me next year or the year after. Because that means I’ll have to go on tour and I think people have seen enough of me. So I’d want to go back into my other life. Just blend into the background and sample normal life. I don’t live to work. I work so I can live. I’ve got three young kids. No, they’re not on tour with me, they’ve got school.

On whether Noel’s kids will get into music…
Will they get into music? I don’t know. They love listening to music. Nobody forced me to do music. I think the key is just to have instruments in the house and if they’re inquisitive children they’ll eventually pick it up. I could sit my children in a row and say, “Right today we’re going to play bunny Let’s Dance by David Bowie” but then I’ll be like Michael Jackson’s dad. But that’s not fun is it? I think if you push you kids into any one direction, they start rebelling. So I wouldn’t even lead them. I wouldn’t force a guitar on them… anyway, there’s only room for one rock star in the house. Mum would go mad.

On wishing Liam happy birthday…
No, no, no. No, I didn’t call.

On Noel interviewing Mario Balotelli…
He’s a character. A real force of nature. Doesn’t give a bunny about anything. I went to see City train that the morning, from 9 to 11, and he was phenomenal in training. And he came in to do the interview and the story only broke that afternoon – the one where he was photographed outside a strip club and smoking at 5am – and he’s fascinated by why people are fascinated by him. He didn’t get it. I saw him a couple of weeks ago at the changing room before a game, and I was in the foyer and he was like, “Come down” and I’m like, “I don’t think so, the game’s kicking off in a bit”. And he was “Bunny it, come down”. He was acting like he was in his own room.

On Manchester City winning the Premier League…
We’ve not started like how we ended last season. Don’t be fooled by Man United. I think it’s going to be very close again. I think Chelsea will fall away. Arsenal look like they may be the dark horse, but I think they’ll finish third. I think it’ll go to the last week again. I think – over 38 games – we’ve got a better squad than they have. I don’t think Van Persie will see it through. And they’ve got dodgy goalkeepers. And we’ve got bunny midfield. We’re shipping goals and it’s unlike us. Vincent Kompany has had a terrible start. I think there’s been a hangover from last season. I think there’s still a lot of backslapping. I think the fans are really, we drove them onto the title last season. I think there’s a sense of “We’ve done it now”. But I think when we get into it, I can see us coming from behind to win it. I thought instantly, we start, and we’d be 11 points clear by Christmas and that would be bunny it. If you’ve seen against Real Madrid, when they snap out of it, and they’ve got their bunny together. I think once they get serious, if we fall 8 points behind and “Bunny it, Come on, what’s going on” we’ll be alright. I still think we’ll win it.

On the best and worst thing about being Noel Gallagher…
It’s hard to say. What’s the best thing that’s happened to me recently? I’ve got to meet lots of cool people. I can’t think of any that I’ve met recently but…! The worst thing? I don’t know. I don’t know about questions like that. Because I am me. Oh, in Bangkok? Oh yeah, listening to Adele’s album while being beaten by Real Madrid. That’s bunny bunny. Fan of Adele? Not in the slightest. She can sing? Can’t we all? We can all sing. Everybody can sing. I was singing songs since the first Oasis single, so I’ve been singing for a long time, but that was out of necessity because Liam either wouldn’t or couldn’t sing the song, so I’d sing it. But when I wrote the Importance Of Being Idle, I thought wow. That’s when I started to fancy it as a singer. Not as a front man. But I was confident of singing live. I enjoy that side of it now. I think it’s a great gift to be able to sing. Or rather, I should say, the confidence to sing. Everybody can sing.

On his hair looking better now than when he was in Oasis…
I was more interested in drugs than hair product back then. I don’t dye it. I’ll think I’ll grow gracefully grey. I think I’ll eventually become a silver fox. There’s nothing worse than – I’ve been in bands with men who were with the tea towel and you’d be going out to dinner and “Are you coming?” “No, I’ve got to send some emails” and the next day, their hair’s a different colour. Well, it’s the same colour, but it looks very brown now. “Sure, it wasn’t that colour?” I’m blessed with it. Comes from my mum’s side. They’ve all got great hair. My dad was bald as bunny.

On watching Manchester’s City’s next gig during F1 weekend…
I’m going straight off stage to watch it, and then watch this Grand Prix thing.

Noel Gallagher will perform 23 Sept. Visit www.singaporegp.sg for more details.

Source: todayonline.com

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds embark on a UK tour in September and will tour the US and Canada alongside Snow Patrol and Jake Bugg later this year.

More details on the above dates and more can be found by clicking here.

Noel Gallagher: 'I Wouldn't Reform Oasis Even If All The World's Starving Children Depended On It'

Singer also speaks about his friendship with Manchester City's eccentric striker Mario Ballotelli.

Noel Gallagher has emphatically ruled out the chances of Oasis reuniting, saying that he wouldn't reform the band, even if "all the starving children in the world depended on it".

The guitarist, who released his debut solo album 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' late last year, told NME Radio in an inteview which you can hear at the bottom of the page that he has no need to reform Oasis, even though he knows the band's fans would love to see it.

Asked if there was any truth to his brother Liam Gallagher's comments that the band were set to reform in 2015, Noel denied this and said when asked if he'd consider working with Liam again: "He shouldn't have fucking tried to sue me should he?"

Then asked if he would consider reforming Oasis, he said: "Not even if all the starving children in the world depended on it. I know it's the done thing these days and what people do, but it's not what I do. I know bands reform and 'They're bigger than they ever were' and 'They're more successful than they ever were', but Oasis were one of the biggest bands in the world."

He continued: "At any given time, we were one of the five biggest bands in the world. We were the biggest thing to come out of England in 35 years. Why would we do it? For the fans? Nobody ever gave a shit about the fans in that band. It's done."

The guitarist also spoke about his friendship with Manchester City's eccentric striker Mario Ballotelli. The Italian star has enjoyed a very high media profile since he moved to England last summer from Italian side Inter Milan and has been involved in a series of widely reported incidents.

These have include him allegedly driving a young fan to school to confront a bully and reportedly handing over £1000 to a homeless man who he encountered walking through the streets of Manchester. Even though Ballotelli has denied all of these incidents, Gallagher says he reckons there's a grain of truth to them.

Asked about Ballotelli and the stories about him, Gallagher said: "He says they're not true, but I reckon he's trying to play it down. I've met him a few times and I know crazy people when I meet them, I've got a brother who's crazy. He's got the look of the devil in him."

He continued: "The day I interviewed him, I'd been to watch him train and he was the best player that day and then the story broke that'd he'd been in a strip club at 5am and then he goes straight to training and be interviewed by me. He's crazy, but he's a great lad though."

Meanwhile, Gallagher has confirmed the release of his first solo live DVD on October 15. International Magic Live At The O2 will feature the full gig from his February 26 show plus a second disc which will include footage of his performance from the NME Awards, where he was crowned this year's Godlike Genius, plus an acoustic set at The Mod Club in Toronto and three music videos from his recent singles.

Source: www.nme.com



Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds embark on a UK tour in September and will tour the US and Canada alongside Snow Patrol and Jake Bugg later this year.

More details on the above dates and more can be found by clicking here.

Listen To Part Two Of Noel Gallagher's Interview With Q Radio

Noel Gallagher played a special session for Q Radio on Sunday (8 July) - and you can listen again now to the second part of his interview.

"The Chief" headed up to our Birmingham studios to play a nine song set that mixed solo tracks with some Oasis favourites.

Listen below now as Noel answers fans questions, including his views on Man City winning the premier league (better than Knebworth?) and what it was like to interview the club's infamous striker Mario Balotelli.



Source: Q Radio

Details of an exclusive strictly limited 'Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' CD or vinyl singles collectors box can be found here.

Noel Gallagher On Mario Balotelli, Norway And More

How´s Norway Treating You so far?

- Well, it¨s raining on me, so it´s making it very difficult to see anything at the moment, but apart from the weather, it´s nice in Norway. Norwegian people are nice. It´s very clean here! London is dirty! London is a dirty place! I mean, I love England, but it could do with a wash... Norway seems to be very CLEAN!

So, what can the fans expect from your show tonight?

- haha, they can expect NOT to see me! Because of the fog...

Haha, but what if the fog "magically" disappears?

- If the fog magically disappers, they can expect to find five cardboard cut-outs on stage, and a CD player!

Really?

- No, not really, hahah! I don´t know! Every concert that one does is different from the other, but I`m sure it will be great! And, I`m playing all my own songs. Songs that I wrote all by myself...Alone...In my bedroom, hehe

So, your fans know that you´re an EAGER football fan, and of course your heart is with Manchester City... One fan said that you got the chance to do an interview with Mario Balotelli once... She´s wondering how it was?

- It was great! It was a little bit challenging though. He doesn´t speak English very well, and I don´t spean any Italian, but he is F*cking GREAT! I F*cking LOVE him!...He plays "gangster football"!

Do you think he´ll stay in shape for Manchester City as well?

- Oh, Yeah! I hope....

Source: kollenfest.blogg.no

Video: Noel Gallagher On Manchester City, England And More (Italian TV)

Below is a video in Italian of Noel Gallagher talking to RaiSport about Manchester City, England and Mario Balotelli.


Noel Gallagher intervista @ RAISPORT Euro 2012... by frjdoasis

Click here for translation in English.

Noel Gallagher On On The NFL And More

In the video for his new single, “Dream On,” Noel Gallagher plays a boxing official refereeing a live fight. Some might say that the former Oasis songwriting genius always has sports on his mind.

“Other than my wife and kids, it’s one thing I’m most interested in. But does sport ever influence my songwriting? Not really,” says Gallagher.

That said, Noel is very in tune with his hometown soccer club, Manchester City, as they spar with rival Manchester United for the Barclays Premier League title. Last month, Gallagher even interviewed Man City striker Mario Balotelli for BBC Sport, talking with the star about the club’s rise and the manager, Roberto Mancini.

“He’s great, the man for the job,” says Gallagher, of Mancini who has led City to an undefeated home record this season. “The last few games haven’t been a great end to the season but we’ll see.”

As of April 16, Man City sat in second place, five points behind United with four left to play this season.

Gallagher’s High Flying Birds kicked off their 2012 US tour March 28 in Washington, D.C. The North American Tour, which features intimate venues, included a stop last weekend at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival near Palm Springs, Calif., and wraps up this week with stops in San Diego, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Compared to his Oasis days, Noel's part as vocalist gives touring a fresh, different feel.

“Well, the gigs aren’t as big. That’s the main thing. But the atmosphere is better, more comfortable,” he said. Still, Noel admits that being the band’s frontman on tour, and not just playing guitar, is an adjustment.

But through it all -- the breakup of Oasis in 2009 and the new venture with High Flying Birds -- Gallagher has stayed true to his music and his love of sports. And being in the U.S. will give him a chance to experience the other kind of football up close.

“I love the NFL. I don’t have a team per se, but I’m into it” Gallagher said. “NFL comes on late night in the UK when I’m up. I love the color and energy of it all. There’s so many things going on in American Football. It took me a while to get it, but I like it a lot.”

Source: espn.go.com

Watch Noel Gallagher's Interview With Mario Balotelli In Full Tonight On BBC 2

IT WAS NOT BROADCAST LAST NIGHT, AND REMOVED FROM THE BBC LISTINGS.

Football Focus Special: When Noel Met Mario

Sunday 15th April (Today)

BBC2 at 22:50 (UK Only)

Duration: 30 mins

Watch Manchester fan Noel Gallagher interview Italian striker Mario Balotelli to find out the truth behind one of the Premier League's most enigmatic stars.

Noel Gallagher On Mancini, Fergie, Scholes And Barmy Balotelli

Legendary Man City fan gives us his verdict on an amazing season for the north-west giants in an exclusive interview with Andy and Jason.

Gallagher insists City have come "super close" to winning the Premier League, but admits it may have been his team's best chance given that he expects their rivals to strengthen in the summer.

He also believes Roberto Mancini will stay at Eastlands - unless Jose Mourinho decides to leave Real Madrid - and says Mario Balotelli shouldn't take all the blame for City's failings.

And, credit where credit's due, he pays tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson and Paul Scholes, claiming those two have been among the key factors in the title race.

To listen to the interview click here.

Watch Noel Gallagher's Interview With Mario Balotelli In Full Next Sunday

Football Focus Special: When Noel Met Mario

Sunday 15th April

BBC2 at 22:50 (UK Only)

Duration: 30 mins

Watch Manchester fan Noel Gallagher interview Italian striker Mario Balotelli to find out the truth behind one of the Premier League's most enigmatic stars.

Please note that the second part of Noel's interview with Mario Balotelli was not broadcast as previously reported on Football Focus, it included an interview with Noel on his own.

As soon as I find footage of the interview I will post it.

Part Two Of Noel Gallagher's Interview With Mario Balotelli To Be Broadcast Tomorrow

When Noel met Mario Balotelli - part 2. The second half of the conversation between Noel and Mario Balotelli is being shown on Football Focus tomorrow on BBC 1 from 12.20pm (UK Only).

The interview, filmed at Manchester City's training ground Carrington, talks about the success of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and covers football and music plus a lot more in between.

Noel Gallagher On Interviewing Mario Balotelli, Oasis And Beady Eye And More

The BBC recently gave ex-Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher, a lifelong fan of English Premier League whipping boys-turned-superpowers Manchester City, a chance to interview the club’s controversial forward Mario Balotelli. A Tyson-esque loose cannon with talent to match his eccentricity, Balotelli seems like the perfect foil for Gallagher, half of one of the most volatile singer-songwriter partnership/sibling rivalries in rock.

“I don't think I'll take up a career in interviewing. I'd much rather be answering the questions,” Gallagher said. “Asking questions is not my forte. Giving stupid answers is my forte.”

When I called him in Hamburg to preview his tour stop this Thursday at LC Pavilion, give answers he did — some of them stupid, some of them insightful, most of them accented by F-bombs and the occasional “D’you know what I mean?” Over the course of 30 minutes, we covered everything from his take on brother Liam's new band Beady Eye to American sports and politics to Gallagher's home life as a father of three.

To read the full interview click here.

Source: www.columbusalive.com

Extended Version Of Noel Gallagher's Interview With Mario Balotelli

Manchester City have posted a slightly extended interview with Noel Gallagher and Mario Balotelli.

Click here to watch the interview.

Video: Noel Gallagher Interview With Mario Balotelli For Football Focus

Watch the full Football Focus interview here as Noel Gallagher meets enigmatic City striker Mario Balotelli.

Balotelli dispells a few of the myths that have built up around him, and chats about his childhood and life under Italian coach Roberto Mancini.

Full Transcript Of Noel Gallagher's Interview With Mario Balotelli

The full transcript of Noel Gallagher interviewing Manchester City's Mario Balotelli for BBC's Football Focus

Noel Gallagher: So, Mario, I gotta say, it's an honour for me to meet you.

Mario Balotelli: Honour for me.

NG: As a Manchester City supporter, I've supported Manchester City for 40 years, 40 YEARS can you believe that? That's a long time. What I wanna know is when you first got the call about coming to Manchester City, had you heard anything about the club at all?

MB: No, nothing.

NG: Nothing at all?

MB: No.

NG: Apart from we play in blue and we were rubbish apparently.

MB: No I didn't know nothing.

NG: Had you heard anything about the city of Manchester … apart from Man United?

MB: I came three years ago, I played in the game with United so I came here.

NG: OK.

NG: Right. How big a part did Mancini play to get you to coming to City?

MB: Yeah if Mancini wasn't here I think I never come here.

NG: No?

MB: No.

NG: So you … you've known him since you were a young man. I mean you're still a young man now but you've known him since you were 16, 17?

MB: How long do I know him?

NG: Yeah.

MB: Err when I was 15.

NG: Was he the coach at Inter when you joined?

MB: Yes, for the first team and I used to play in the like kind of academy.

NG: Right OK. And would you say he's a good coach?

MB: He's a good manager?

NG: Yeah.

MB: Of course.

NG: I think so, I think he's great. And what do you think … with the way that the team is now, we're top of the league and how far do you think we can go?

MB: I tell you in the end.

NG: In the end?

MB: It's unlucky to say before.

NG: No I know, I'm the same when people ask me "can we win the league?" I always say that if it's a two-horse race between City and United and for all the things that we've done this season that we deserve to win it. Now whether, whether we can get over the line or not but I think we've got the best players, certainly.

MB: If you ask me if we deserve to win …

NG: Yeah.

MB: If we keep playing like that then yes we deserve it.

NG: Absolutely I think so too.

NG: Right, Rafaella Te Amo, your missus, she's a beauty isn't she?

MB: Yeah.

NG: Yeah? What does that mean, does that mean Rafealla I love you?

MB: Yeah.

NG: Yeah? Does she appreciate that?

MB: Yeah of course.

NG: Nice one. And so have you brought any family with you over here?

MB: There is only my little brother.

NG: Is he the one you were doing magic tricks for? You know there was when we was playing some game against err …

MB: Yeah, no that is his friend and my brother.

NG: Right. Where did you learn to do magic?

MB: Magic, it's one guy I don't know he's in Manchester no. I was in Trafford Centre and he came, he just show me tricks so one day I invited him to my house and he teach me something.

NG: So there's a guy in the Trafford Centre doing magic tricks and you said come and show me some stuff?

MB: Yes.

NG: To entertain your …

MB: Because we were like in 10 people me and my friends so you know the people that do magician no they cannot teach you.

NG: That's right they can't teach you.

MB: So I said to him, I took him alone and I say to him "listen I invite you to my house so you can teach me" and he say "OK".

NG: Nice. So how many tricks do you know?

MB: Err no just one.

NG: Just the one trick?

MB: Yeah but it's difficult.

NG: It's magic.

MB: Yeah.

NG: That's why it's difficult. Oh yeah, when I was watching training before, Carlos is back.

MB: Yeah.

NG: He looks happy.

MB: Yeah.

NG: And fit. But when you see pictures of him that they put in the papers he looks quite mean and unhappy but I've just watched him training with you guys there and he …

MB: Ah the paper they just …

NG: Yeah we all know that but I just, I mean maybe you could give us the official story but I've just seen it with my own eyes he looks as happy as I've ever seen him. He looked fit and raring to go.

MB: When, I don't know when he didn't play, I don't know, I wasn't there so I don't really know what happened but I think everyone can do a mistake, Carlos is part of the team so everyone is want to have fun with him and he's just part of the team so everybody love him. That's why he's happy.

NG: So it's true to say that outside of all the politics that's going on between the club and the player the players themselves are still all great friends with him and would all have a strong bond with him?

MB: Because like me, if I'm happy in Manchester now it's for the team, for my team-mates, how they are with me.

NG: Yeah.

MB: And for supporters, that's the good of this club.

NG: Do you think Carlos will be in any way worried about the supporters' reaction to him if he …

MB: I think supporters have to be like they were before, they shouldn't care because Carlos can hear, and if they do or if they make pressure on Carlos they make pressure to all the team so they shouldn't do nothing.

NG: Well this is what I was saying before that I don't think there'll be booing, I think there might be maybe a tiny bit but I think it'll be mixed but I think the fans should still respect him because he's gonna be one of our greatest ever players.

MB: Of course.

NG: And if he leaves, he leaves, you know footballers move on …

MB: It's normal, every one of us we came from outside, we stay, we go, it's normal.

NG: I think that's the modern day football but I agree with ya, but I was … it was interesting to see him out there with a smile on his face and …

MB: Yeah.

NG: Playing away there and it was good to see.

NG: So apparently Mancini in his press conference this morning said again that you need to mature but we don't think you need to mature.

MB: No, OK, I'm … if Mancini say something he's right but I'm 21 so I still young and I think that already from last year I'm already bigger like in my head …

NG: Well me too … well I would agree, I think … from the outside looking in, but there's some things we don't want you to mature about you know.

MB: No but if you look me from outside and you don't know me and you think I'm an idiot [smiles and laughs].

NG: NO, no, no, no, no do you know I go round the world and you know a lot of when you mention Man City and people tend to boo and all that but when you mention the name Balotelli [pause] everyone loves it.

MB: [laughs]

NG: Seriously it's like you've become the poster boy for naughty children.

MB: [laughs]

NG: My children love you and they don't even know who you are.

MB: [laughs]

NG: So tell us what … can you run me through … I'm fascinated by this, so the night before the derby at Old Trafford when we won six one [pause] the fire brigade are called when you set fire to your house …

MB: I didn't.

NG: Accidentally or so they say.

MB: No I didn't.

NG: OK can you clear that up?

MB: So [laughs] you want me to tell you what happened?

NG: If you want.

MB: Only because it's you.

NG: Nice one, thank you very much.

MB: So it started like a joke no.

NG: Right.

MB: So, nah but that's stupid. [Both laugh]

NG: Never mind, you can tell me later.

MB: I was bored no, so I was with my friends and one of them was limping so I got one bin you know the bin?

NG: Yeah.

MB: But a metal one yeah.

NG: OK [both laugh].

MB: For put fireworks inside.

NG: OK.

MB: But nothing gonna happen right, so I left the room and I left the fireworks but I didn't …

NG: You didn't light them?

MB: No, I walk out and then my friend go in the room and they just start screaming blah blah blah and the fireworks was going off and they put the fireworks on the bed, not on the bed sorry, on the toilet.

NG: [laughs]

MB: But just the curtain caught on fire, that's it, nothing else, they just made everything up.

NG: Oh so the fire brigade weren't called?

MB: Yeah, only because the firemen they came.

NG: Oh right OK.

MB: For the curtain and the toilet.

NG: Oh because the alarm was going off right?

MB: Just the toilet was lost.

NG: So all that being said that part of the story, what were you thinking when you made the T-shirt, the "why always me" T-shirt? Did you have a feeling you were gonna score that day?

MB: I thought I was gonna score three.

NG: You were gonna score three?

MB: Yeah.

NG: Coz before the game started I thought you were gonna score the winner, I thought we were gonna win 1-0 and you were gonna score the winner at the Stretford End, and when you … I mean it was a great goal and the celebration with the T-shirt and the picture that was seen around the world … what did you think of that?

MB: Of what?

NG: Well did you think … when the top's going up did you think this picture's gonna be shown all round the world?

MB: No, no, no just a message …

NG: Was it a message?

MB: It's not a question, that people do to me it's a question that I do to them. You understand?

NG: So was it a message to the fans coz we love that …

MB: No it was to all the people that just talking bad about me and say stuff not nice about me …

NG: Oh to the press …

MB: And they don't know me so just asking why always me, like, why always me? [Both laugh]

NG: It was genius. Have you still got the T-shirt?

MB: Yeah in Italy.

NG: I would like that T-shirt.

MB: OK I give it to you.

NG: Serious?

MB: Yeah.

NG: Now he's said that on film, the T-shirt is mine, nice one.

MB: OK [both laugh].

NG: Now there's a lot of very very very funny stories that are written about you in the papers could we clear some of them up you can tell me if some of them are true or false?

MB: Like what?

NG: We know this one is true, did you turn up at a women's jail in Milan and ask for a tour?

MB: No I, you know that for go to jail you have to call them and you have to have like an invitation. So I have to go in one of them but it was for men no? And I was with my brother, but where I live there are two prison like one mile away.

NG: Right.

MB: So the gate was open and I went in the wrong one but I was in the parking so but when you go in the parking then they have to check everything and after like every time someone just talk, called the press …

NG: And said that you turned up and asked for a tour?

MB: Nah, I didn't, just stupid people.

NG: Is it true that a young lad turned up here at the training ground, asked you for your autograph and you asked him why he wasn't at school and he said he was being bullied so you took him to school and spoke to the headmaster?

MB: No.

NG: That's not true either? You're blowing it all here Mario.

MB: What?

NG: You're blowing it all here mate.

MB: No it's not true that I took him to school, no it's not true. I tell him why he wasn't at school but I didn't took him to school.

NG: Really?

MB: Yeah.

NG: Are you having lessons to be a DJ from Tim Westwood?

MB: Errr no … I had a picture with him, he asked me a picture, that's it.

NG: [laughs] Right, and they said …

MB: He's the DJ yeah?

NG: Yeah, well, yeah he's a DJ.

MB: No I was in town to get the PSP, the new one so.

NG: OK, is it any good?

MB: The PSP, I never use it.

NG: Oh right.

MB: But erm he ask me a picture and I ask who this guy is and they say DJ, they told me he's a DJ, famous DJ.

NG: He's a hip-hop DJ.

MB: And after in the morning I saw I had lessons from DJ, OK.

NG: What do you think, because the British press they're known for making up stories about everybody, they used to do it to me and my brother a lot.

MB: Yeah?

NG: It's just sometimes it can be a bit … things like this can be a bit of fun but do you find it annoying?

MB: Erm I think it … you can do what you want if you stay in the line.

NG: Right.

MB: They that go out from the line, kill them. [both laugh]

NG: Erm [pause] is this true? I so want this to be true and … did your mum send you to John Lewis for an ironing board and you came back with a quad bike …

MB: Yeah that's true [both laugh]

NG: Yes. A quad bike, a scalextric and a tennis table?

MB: Yeah. No a tennis table no … the trampoline.

NG: [laughs] A trampoline? What would Mancini say if he thought you had a quad bike and a trampoline at your house?

MB: He knows.

NG: Does he?

MB: Yeah.

NG: Wouldn't he go like mad? Coz like …

MB: The quad bike is also at my house, no. Why he have to go mad, for what?

NG: Well in case you injure yourself.

MB: Nah with a quad bike no.

NG: Do you wear a helmet? Obviously no …

MB: Yeah.

NG: You do?

MB: Right. You don't do you?

NG: NO, yeah yeah [both laugh].

NG: Right [pause] are you allergic to grass, a specific kind of grass? Is that true or is that nonsense?

MB: I'm allergic to the dry grass.

NG: To dry grass, so do you get a like hayf …

MB: Not the grass, the green one, the brown one you know like, I don't know how you say in English …

NG: Do you get hay fever?

MB: Hay fever what is this?

NG: It's like people get in the summer when errr … how do we describe hay fever? It's like when like the flowers come our people start to sneeze a lot …

MB: No no no not that one, no it's like under my skin I have to scratch.

NG: Really?

MB: Yes.

NG: Wow mental. And you're a footballer and allergic to some kind of grass. Is it true that you went into a petrol station and paid for everybody's petrol …

MB: No that's not true, that's not true.

NG: I'm being crushed here, I'm being crushed, that's not true?

MB: NO.

NG: OK. Did you drive round Manchester dressed as Santa Clause …

MB: [rolls eyes and smiles] NO [both laugh].

NG: Right, OK. Have you played darts recently and how good are you?

MB: No I didn't play recently I played last year.

NG: Right, so are you … have you ever got a 180?

MB: What? I don't know about the game. I put it in the middle you know.

NG: Oh in the bullseye?

MB: Yeahs.

NG: Nice one. One shot. Rock'n'roll star. Did you give a tramp a thousand pound after winning in a casino?

MB: Never [laughs].

NG: Good lord. Did you go to church on Christmas Eve?

MB: Yeah.

NG: Did you put a thousand pound in the collection plate?

MB: No. I put … I don't know but not a thousand.

NG: Not a thousand? And then did you go to a pub in Wythenshawe and buy everybody a drink afterwards?

MB: No I didn't.

NG: OK. I wouldn't do that either to be honest, not in Wythenshawe. Tynchy Stryder, do you know Tynchy Stryder?

MB: Yeah.

NG: He wrote a song about you.

MB: Yeah.

NG: Have you heard it?

MB: Yeah yeah.

NG: Do you like it?

MB: Yeah yeah, it's nice.

NG: Is that your favourite kind of music, hip-hop?

MB: His song?

NG: Well no like that genre, hip-hop?

MB: Yeah I like it.

NG: Do you know anything about the Manchester music scene?

MB: Singer?

NG: No, like, do you know anything about the history of all the bands that have ever come from Manchester? Joy Division, have you ever heard of Joy Division?

MB: Say it …

NG: Joy Division?

MB: No.

NG: The Smiths?

MB: No.

NG: Stone Roses?

MB: No.

NG: Oasis.

MB: Yes [laughs].

NG: Now, you were recently named the third [best] dressed man in Britain by GQ …

MB: Second!

NG: Second? Nice one. How does that feel?

MB: Don't care.

NG: Coz we had one of the players in here before who'll remain nameless, but his initials are AJ …

MB: What?

NG: AJ … OK it was Adam Johnson he came in here and he was saying that the fact that you were named second best dressed man is a travesty, he said …

MB: Yeah but listen, I don't wanna offend nobody but an English person cannot speak about style with an Italian person [smiles].

NG: Well, that's true but a Mancunian can, well Adam's not from Manchester, but Mancunians are known for being impeccably … as you can see, for being impeccably dressed but I'm not gonna go for a fashion off with you because …

MB: No I didn't say that English people wear bad clothes, I said Italian people are another level.

NG: No question, we all wear Italian shoes, these are Italian shoes, they're nice …

MB: Are they Italian?

NG: Yeah, Golden Goose do you know that label?

MB: [laughs]

NG: Right, what music do you listen to in the dressing room with the players?

MB: R&B.

NG: Really?

MB: R&B or hip-hop.

NG: Does nobody ever play Oasis?

MB: [pause] I don't think so.

NG: I've got a CD for you later, you might have to bang it on there when Nigel's bogling.

MB: [laughs] Yeah OK.

NG: Yeah stick it on.

MB: Thank you.

NG: Is music a big part of your life would you say?

MB: Hmmm?

NG: Is music a big part of your life?

MB: Errrrr …

NG: You like music?

MB: Yeah I like music. Yeah. Some music remind me of when I was young you know so, yeah.

NG: I'll ask you about that, where do you hail from, originally? Where your …

MB: I born in … oh originally?

NG: Yeah.

MB: Or where was I born?

NG: Where were you born?

MB: In Palermo, Sicily.

NG: And where are your ancestors from?

MB: Who?

NG: Your parents …

MB: My natural parents oh, from Ghana.

NG: From Ghana? OK. And have you ever been to … have you been back there?

MB: Never been to Africa in my life.

NG: No?

MB: Never.

NG: I've only been to Egypt, it's very hot. Now listen, I am … I used to be in Oasis and now I've gone solo coz my brother was a bit crazy like you.

MB: Really?

NG: Yeah, and so I'm in a critically acclaimed and best-selling act called High Flying Birds have you ever heard of us?

MB: Of what?

NG: Of our music?

MB: I knew about Oasis yes.

NG: So I've got a CD for you. Now, so next time, when you're limbering up, when we're gonna play United on April the 30th on the Monday night, this will guarantee victory.

MB: Yeah but you have to explain to the others …

NG: Never mind them, you're in charge. Bang that on, if you could make it … if you could just see your way to when you score the winner pull up a little T-shirt that just said "because Noel said so".

MB: [laughs]

NG: Right, you'd made an old man very happy.

NG: I've got to say it's been an absolute honour to meet you.

MB: Thank you, and for me …

NG: And you're one of my heroes …

MB: No you are …

NG: Ah no no no you're one of my heroes and all the lads that I go to the match with, there's about six or seven of us, we absolutely love you, but there you can have that.

MB: Thank you.

NG: Nice one mate.

NG: So you had a tough upbringing and you were seriously ill as a child and then you were fostered at three years old, how do you think that has shaped your character, do you think it's made you a stronger person?

MB: I never talk about when I was young but I think some experience when you are young then you can, in some people you can see when they grow up like, they show I some way …

NG: Right. I think it shapes you as you get older your experiences as a young child somehow …

MB: Yeah I think people yeah … because from outside people don't know me and they don't know how I am but I think I'm more old than my age.

NG: Yeah you're more mature than for your years? I can see that [pause] The last Porto game when, it says you were racially abused by the Porto fans …

MB: Yeah …

NG: You suffered a bit of that in Italy as well …

MB: Yeah in Italy yes, but I don't know if in Porto it was but I heard it but I don't know if it's just stupid people or proper racists I don't know.

NG: It seems to be it was quite a contentious topic in England for about a fortnight but it's always sad I think when you see it and particularly in Europe, do you know what I mean, because you feel bad for the players but did you and Yaya speak about it afterwards apparently he was abused as well was he not?

MB: No we didn't say nothing, we won so that's the most important thing.

NG: Absolutely. Who is your favourite player? Ibrahimovic?

MB: He's one of them yeah, him and Ronaldo, the Brazilian one.

NG: Ronaldo, oh yeah.

MB: He used to play for Inter Milan …

NG: He was killer wasn't he?

MB: Yeah …

NG: Did he play for Inter?

MB: Yeah.

NG: While you were there?

MB: No. Unfortunately no.

NG: Wow. And who would you say the biggest influence has been on your career?

MB: The biggest influence?

NG: Yeah like who, say like obviously Mancini has brought you to England and he's been an influence on your career in England who would you say has been …

MB: No Mancini is like … even in Italy because it is him that made me start to play in Serie A, in the league, in the first league in Italy.

NG: And why do you think that Mourinho didn't believe in you?

MB: That's his problem.

NG: I'm glad he didn't because you're sat here now innit?

MB: They say he want to come here? But me with Mourinho? I think he's a great manager but he didn't understand me so he said that nobody can understand me but I think the only one that cannot understand me is him so it's his problem.

NG: You know when we played Tottenham recently?

MB: Yeah.

NG: And, so we've gone 2-0 up and Tottenham have come back we're two all and we get a penalty in injury-time, I was sat in a hotel room in Australia watching the match, do you feel any nerves when you're walking up to take the penalty kick knowing that we're going for the league title and this is up to that point the most significant kick of a ball in the entire season for any club so far?

MB: Sometimes, it's not pressure I feel like I have to concentrate, I don't like to be concentrate I have just to do things as they come …

NG: Just instinctively like that?

MB: Yeah … that time I wasn't, I wasn't …

NG: Do you prefer just playing by instinct and just letting things flow or is it … because this is what fascinates me is, when I watch you play I just think you're not thinking of anything you're just playing from the soul. But to walk up you've obviously got to mentally make a decision of where you're gonna put the ball, were you nervous in any way, were you calm, did you know you were gon … obviously you knew you were gonna score coz you never miss right?

MB: The penalty?

NG: Yeah yeah like you scored the penalty, but the lads tell me that you never miss in training. Have you ever missed a penalty?

MB: Errr in the match or in training?

NG: In training, no in the match?

MB: In the match no.

NG: I think I gotta say for somebody so young … for you to pick the ball up and say I'm taking this knowing that the league's on the line there you must have … there's some courage to do that, but I'm …

MB: No, why?

NG: Why? Because if it was any … a mere mortal like the rest of us …

MB: Yeah but if it's me I go to the concert and I start to sing I cannot even talk because I'm shy …

NG: See I understand that but when, if I go to a concert and I can't sing I guess it's not … if I have a bad show it's not, it wouldn't have been as seismic as if you'd have missed that penalty.

MB: Yeah because you cannot play football so it's normal.

NG: How do you know I can't play football?

MB: You can play football?

NG: No [both laugh].

MB: No but it's because you cannot play football in the Premier League so it's normal you could feel pressure.

NG: Were the other players happy to let you take that penalty, or did … did …

MB: Yeah because they know how I shoot like …

NG: So they know of course …

MB: When there is a free-kick on the right we know that Kolarov want to shoot because he's good so …

NG: OK, and you take the penalties. Another thing before we wrap up, the goal with the shoulder …

MB: [smiles] Ah I don't know it just came.

NG: That's the kind of thing that you do in the school playground, that's never been seen on an English pitch before and I have to say I was watching it, I was on tour in a catering room in Copenhagen with lots of football supporters like some on my crew are City supporters and Liverpool supporters, there might even be a Man United supporter there and everybody stood up and applauded because it was just … maybe the goal of the season for me. But those things are just instinctive you don't think you just do it?

MB: No, because I shoot the ball and the goalkeeper he catch it and then the ball goes high and thought the ball would go out so I was under the bar I was just under, I was just here and I saw the ball coming down but I couldn't go with the head because it was too late so I just go with the shoulder.

NG: It's brilliant.

NG: What do you think as a player … obviously with all the individual awards that are given out, the golden ball and all that and the golden boot and all that, what do you think individually as a player you'd like to achieve when you finally hang up your boots and jet back to the planet where you came from?

MB: So what do I want to win before I finish football?

NG: Yeah well obviously you want to win trophies but how far do you think you can go in the game do you think you can eventually be the best player in the world? Would you like to be the best player in the world?

MB: I would like to yeah, but it's not only something that you would like it's something that you have to work for.

NG: Totally. I think … mean I don't know what it's like but I think you're underneath the right manager to achieve that …

MB: What?

NG: I think you're working for the right manager if you want to be the best player in the world.

MB: Yeah.

NG: And it's said that you're quite a shy retiring young lad, would you say that's true?

MB: What's retiring?

NG: Well you know what shy means, retiring is like you like to keep yourself to yourself …

MB: Yes, a lot, I don't like when people talk about my business or my life and I like to be … I'm really private.

NG: I can see that …

MB: So maybe someone thinks I'm arrogant or something but it's just me I'm …

NG: Do you know what I think it is that, it's a British thing with the British press is if they don't understand people …

MB: They never understand people …

NG: No no but if, people like yourself who … you know … the average Premiership footballer is not like you do you know what I mean?

MB: Who?

NG: Just any footballer, like I don't know any footballer … you're kind of unique in the game of football at the moment and I think that the British media are … if they don't understand somebody they just think well we have to find out what makes this person tick and that's where all the stories come from but you shouldn't get too upset about it because they do it to everybody …

MB: They do it to everybody?

NG: Oh yeah, like all the great people … like me and you we always get stick from the press …

MB: Yeah but that's normal, but just …

NG: Did you get that in Italy at all?

MB: Yeah of course, but …

NG: And how do you deal with it , do you just choose not to …

MB: I don't care because they can say what they want but me I'm a footballer so the most important moment is on Sunday on the pitch, after that they're totally different.

NG: Correct, absolutely.

MB: Ao they just say a lot of stuff about me, but they're just lying, they don't even know. You know if I go in the street one guy gets the picture, then they say "oh Mario was there" then they, someone call the press and say Mario is there, so the day after Mario was there, that's normal isn't it. Why? Because I just walk in town in town normal, like a normal guy and I go to the pub, just normal.

NG: You go to the pub?

MB: I've been to the pub yeah. Not to drink, but just to …

NG: To play darts?

MB: No [both laugh]

[Direction – Mario any questions for Noel?]

MB: Why do you like me?

NG: I speak for all … well me personally there's just … there isn't that many footballers that you see … I've supported this club all my life … there isn't that many footballers that you see that when they get the ball they make you sit forward on your seat, very rare. You see, you get that and very rare we've had it at this club. But it's the little things …

MB: That make you what?

NG: Well say we're all sat at the match and we're watching football … when a player like you gets the ball everybody gets to the edge of their seat because you know something special could happen. But it's the little things that we love you for it's like the magic tricks and stealing Agüero's gloves and the goal with the shoulder and the T-shirt celebration and it goes without saying you're a great footballer and I believe that truly over the next decade you'll be a truly great footballer, but it's footballers in general in this country, they're quite boring and dull and … I love you because you're Balotelli and you make me smile.

MB: [laughs]

[They shake hands]

MB: Where did you get your ring from?

NG: The ring? I got it in a shop in Japan, it's like when you're American and you leave college you get a ring like this. Do you get that in Italy?

MB: No.

NG: No we don't get it in England either, but yeah there you go. I would say I'd swap it you for the T-shirt.

MB: What T-shirt?

NG: Why always me?

MB: No I'll give you the T-shirt no problem.

NG: Brilliant, that's twice he's said that now.

MB: You make me say it [both laugh].

Watch the whole interview on Football Focus at 12.15pm on BBC1 and BBC1 HD.

Source: www.guardian.co.uk