In the build-up to the Copa del Rey game against Atleti tomorrow, AS interviewed one of the most pleasant surprises of this season, Ángel di María.  Here are the highlights of the interview.  It’s a pretty great one, and Ángel sounds like the ideal son-in-law: he loves his girlfriend, God and cooking!  Plus, he’s friends with Pipita.

Q:  Your compatriot Messi won the Ballon d’Or again.  Do you dream of winning it one day?

A:  Yes, the entire world dreams of that and me as well.  I would like to win it.  But the first step is to get onto the list, and so far I’m not there yet.  But I’ll continue working, so at least things will go well.

Q:  Do you think Mourinho’s character reflects badly on Madrid?

A:  I don’t know where that comes from.  For me, he doesn’t do anything that anyone else doesn’t do.  He asks for things like everyone else.  But during the first few games, we were kicked a lot and no one was cautioned.  And as soon as we just touched another player, out came the yellow card.

Q:  Have you talked with Higuaín?

A:  Before and after the operation.  He was quite nervous [pobrecito!!!].

Q:  Who were your Argentine derbies against?

A:  Newell’s.

Q:  Were those games similar to the Madrid derbies?

A:  It’s more passionate in my country, you notice it more on the streets.  But I’ve liked playing a lot in the derbies against Atlético and thanks to God we won both of them.

Q:  Agüero won’t play tomorrow…

A:  He’s a special player and he shows it in every game.

Q:  Do you speak a lot with him?

A:  Yes, yes.  We get together to eat.

Q:  Who cooks?

A:  When he came to my house, I cooked.

Q:  What is the secret of your asado?

A:  I always use coal, and never grills or stoves.  Coal, firewood and barbecuing.

Q:  Tell us about Cristiano.

A:  The truth is he’s unstoppable.  He loves scoring goals, he has the ambition to do so in each game.  It’s great for the team.

Q:  How are you preparing for the Copa del Rey?

A:  We started the year with the desire to win everything, from the Copa to the Champions to the Liga.

Q:  Is it as important for you all as the Champions League?

A:  We face each game as if it were a final with every championship at stake.

Q:  Who gave you the nickname “El Fideo?”

A:  It was Banega during the U-20 World Cup.  I was skinnier then than I am now.  Then everyone on the senior national team started calling me that.

Q:  Did being so thin affect your play?

A:  When I was small, I could never gain weight, no matter how much I ate.

Q:  How come?

A:  I was very nervous.  I began playing football because a doctor recommended it to my mother, for me to play sports to counteract the hyperactivity.  I had broken everything in my house with the ball (laughs).

Q:  Why do you celebrate goals by making a heart with your hands?

A:  It’s for my girlfriend.  We’ve lived together for the last two years.  For me, she’s a fundamental source of support.

Q:  Are you very religious?

A:  I’m quite religious, due to my mother, who is very religious.  I got a tattoo of Jesus Christ on my leg to have Him closer to me and so that He could help me.

Q:  Do you attend mass?

A:  When I was small, always.  Here, we went to visit Toledo and Cuenca and we went to church.  I pray before games.