According to the "World Sports Newspaper", Portuguese legend Figo recently accepted an interview with Efe news agency, talking about the Restructuring of the World Cup, the current situation of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid's young Portuguese player Felix, and the European Premier League.
What is your assessment of the new Real Madrid team led by Carlo Ancelotti at the beginning of the season?
It's not long since the season started and the results are very good at the moment, and while last weekend's results were not very positive, we still have a long time to see what happens.
You're critical of the European Premier League, a plan that has failed, but there is still a glimmer of life in the judicial process. Do you think [the UEFA League] is over, or do you still have a chance to be reborn?
I don't think it's possible to (restart) it, but if three teams (who have not yet quit) still want to play in the Premier League, then they will still be welcome. I still don't think this tournament will contribute anything, there are only 10-15 teams, and in terms of helping other domestic leagues, women's leagues, youth leagues, this tournament will destroy the good foundation that has been built over the past 75 years (mainstream leagues to assist minor leagues, non-mainstream leagues).
I still think we already have the best club competition, which is the Champions League, and I don't understand why there is such an elite league with only 15 teams in the Premier League.
What is your opinion on FIFA's proposal to hold the World Cup biennially? Is this a good opportunity, or is it too frequent?
I think it's crazy that the people who bring it up don't think about football at all. It is not reasonable for the World Cup to be held every two years. Under our current competition schedule, we host a World Cup every two years, a European Championship every two years, plus qualifiers... I think it's ridiculous to plan a schedule in such a short period of time.
In 2015, you ran for president of FIFA, do you want to try again?
I don't know because I don't have a long-term plan. There was an opportunity right in front of me, and I thought it was a good time to overthrow the "mafia" in the organization. In the end, time proved me right. If there's another opportunity in the future, and I think it's the right time, then why not do it?
For the final four of the UEFA Nations League, Spain, France, Belgium and Italy, who are you more optimistic about winning?
This year's Final Four is very high, they are some of the strongest national teams in Europe, and I am looking forward to their three wonderful games and showing a high level of technical skills. All teams want to win.
It seems that FIFA, the UEFA Super League and other competitions are trying to expand the scale of the game, and they also occupy greater economic power, how do you think the conflict of the schedule should be resolved?
The solution is that since there is no more number of match days, there must be a game ceiling, and due to the limitations of the league schedule, the existing matches (the number of matches) cannot continue to grow, and the players need to have time to rest.
Your compatriot Felix did well in last weekend's atletico and Barca. Do you think he can gain a foothold in La Liga this season?
The level of João (Felix) is very high. Theoretically (whether he can get a foothold) depends on the interest of the team and the decision of the manager, but for João, I think if he is in the right position, he will perform very well, showing his full potential and all the technical moves he can do.
(Meat-eating rabbit)