18-82 Q&A – Gazzaniga: ‘I’d like to play the piano...’

It’s time for another instalment of our 18-82 Q&A feature with the players! Using the year of the Club’s formation as inspiration, we ask members of the squad to choose 18 lifestyle questions from a selection of 82. Today, it’s goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga’s turn...

1 - What would you sing at karaoke?

Paulo: “It would have to be a song that I know well, maybe ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ by Bob Dylan. By the way, that was the song I sung for my initiation when I went to the national team last season.”

2 – Do you do the washing up?

Paulo: “I do everything! The dishes, wash, cook, everything.”

3 – You have a rare day off – what is your perfect day?

Paulo: “Rest! It depends on the weather as well. I’d be at home with my girlfriend and my dog, Teo.”

4 – What would be your fancy dress costume?

Paulo: “Something crazy. I remember once I was dressed as an Egyptian Mummy.”

5 – What was the last TV box set you watched – or what are you watching at the moment?

Paulo: “I watched ‘Peaky Blinders’ recently. Everyone spoke so well about it. I love it.”

6 – What advice would you give to a younger player?

Paulo: “Humility, sacrifice and hard work. These are the words my father used to give to me as well when I was young.”

7 – What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Paulo: “Open my eyes! I wake up, brush my teeth, get changed and go and prepare the Mate (traditional South American hot drink).”

8 – Who would you most like to meet?

Paulo: “That’s difficult. I would like to meet people who would give me good advice as a goalkeeper – maybe Gianluigi Buffon.”

9 – What are you always asked in interviews?

Paulo: “How are you?! Most of my interviews start with where I came from or how I started my career and often, at Spurs, how and when I found out I was going to play in that particular game.”

10 – What sort of father do you think you will be?

Paulo: “I don’t know, maybe I will try to copy my dad. He was a good role model for me.”

11 – What is your position on facial hair?

Paulo: “Yes, now it’s fashionable.”

12 – When was the last time you cried?

Paulo: “That was when we beat Ajax in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, a special night.”

13 – Did you ever appear in a school play?

Paulo: “Yes, when I was younger. Back home in Argentina there are different dates when we celebrate different traditions. For one, we used to do traditional dancing, in front of the whole school. Now, I wouldn’t do it!”

14 – Can you remember the first film you watched?

Paulo: “I remember back home we had a VHS player and we had two videos – one was the film ‘The Mask’ and the other was from Argentina, the cartoon ‘Trapito’.

15 – What is your favourite photograph?

Paulo: “I have a few. I have a small one with all my family, brothers, sisters, mum and dad. I was maybe about 10. That one is special. There is another I have as well when I was a baby and I have a goalkeeper’s glove.”

16 – What talent do you wish you had?

Paulo: “I’d like to play a musical instrument. The top one would be the piano, or the guitar. I tried to learn the guitar, but it was difficult.”

17 – Would you like to be able to go back into the past or to see into the future?

Paulo: “The past, for sure. I’d go back to a time where I did something wrong and put it right or maybe talk again with some people who are no longer with us.”

18 – What is the best advice you have been given?

Paulo: “A coach once said to me ‘football never waits for anyone’ and I’ve always kept that in my mind.”