Marcelo Grohe talks to SPL Extra: Breaking records in Roshn Saudi League, ‘gratitude’ after Al Ittihad patience and ‘evolution’ of Saudi Arabia goalkeepers
It’s been a 2022/23 campaign to cherish for Al Ittihad goalkeeper Marcelo Grohe.
The unbeatable Brazil international has earned a record-breaking 15 clean sheets this term for the Roshn Saudi League leaders. This new top-flight benchmark in The Kingdom has helped put Nuno Santo’s side in contention for a glorious end to the campaign.
Such achievements feel extra special at a club who “trusted” Grohe to become their number one, despite agreeing a deal to sign him with a serious wrist injury back in December 2018.
SPL Extra caught up with the 36-year-old to discuss his stellar time in Saudi Arabia.
How do you feel towards this club who signed you when you were injured?
“Well, the feeling is one of gratitude, right?
“I don’t see the feeling of debt, but of gratitude for what the club did for me, trusted me, and gave me all the resources and support so that I could have a great recovery.
“And since then I always try to do my best every day in the training and in the matches, to be at my best to represent Al Ittihad in the best way possible and together with my team-mates to achieve the results that the club is aiming for.”
You have become the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in a Pro League season, how do you rank this with your other achievements?
“It’s a wonderful and fantastic achievement. I’m very happy about it.
“But above everything else, I have to highlight the team. Without my team-mates and the team’s efforts, I believe this achievement would not be possible.
“This is because I do not play alone. It is an achievement I have as a goalkeeper to not concede too many goals, but it is mostly an achievement of the team and our collective efforts.
“I would like to share with them, this achievement.
“We have more matches ahead and we hope to get more clean sheets, because if we do not concede, we are closer to winning.”
Describe the relationship with Al Ittihad’s defenders, and who is the closest player to you?
“Well, we have a very good relationship. The group is very united.
“I, particularly, get along with everyone, obviously because of the language, I end up having a closer proximity with the Brazilians, with Helder [Costa], who also speaks Portuguese, but overall, I get along with everyone.
“We obviously have a harmony with the defenders, as well. Because we play practically in the same area of the field.
“But I wouldn’t highlight just one player. I have a good relationship with everyone and for the language, maybe the Brazilians and Helder.”
What is your routine for night games and who do you love to contact after games?
“So, before the games, it is a moment of focus.
“Obviously, we always talk to our family, right? But I always try to study the opponent a lot.
“We receive our opponent’s material. I try to visualise the match, what can happen, in short, it is a moment of great focus, of being prepared.
“We joke that the match starts at the hotel, at the time of the lecture, and from then on it is total focus on the match.”
What is your advice for Saudi Arabian goalkeepers?
“I believe that Saudi Arabia has great goalkeepers and who am I to give advice? But, they can continue to evolve.
“I think that we, as players, we always need to be in constant evolution. And the League has grown.
“Every year it is harder, stronger. And that all Saudi goalkeepers, just like us, may evolve every day in the training and in the matches, so that we can always grow within our profession, especially in our chosen position of goalkeeper, that is such a difficult position and that requires a lot of training, a lot of repetition.
“So, evolution all the time.”