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A great victory at Goodison Park against Everton has been the best way to say goodbye to 2012. I’m already resting in London, writing to you, feeling proud of the class and personality showed by the team until the end to overcome Everton’s first goal. Goodison Park is, to me, one of the toughest stadiums in the Premier League, that’s why this victory is so important. They play with intensity and we were able to adapt to that kind of game: rebounds, aerial balls…
These are three points to keep our good streak in the last week and to start the New Year confident that we are doing things well! Congratulations to Lampard for his two goals, I have met only a few players (or rather, none) with his ability to appear in the right place at the right time, and his goals are clear proof of that.
When I say that 2012 has come to its end I look back to unforgettable moments in the last months… I will always remember 2012 as the year I became champion of Europe with my club and with my national team, champion of the FA Cup, Olympic sportsman… That Final in Munich will always be engraved in my memory, and in that of every Chelsea fan. Something incredible… Even today I get touched when I think about all that… That day, a dream came true.
Also, I will always remember the FA Cup Final against Liverpool at Wembley: my first title as a ‘Blue’. And what to say about the Eurocup Final! Scoring the last goal of the match was a great present to me, and to my family and friends who travelled all the way to Ukraine… For the first time in the history of football a national team won Eurocup-World Cup-Eurocup in a row and I was there. I hope we can keep beating records!
In 2012 I also had the good fortune to participate in the Olympic Games. I was so looking forward to close a perfect year with a medal, but it couldn’t be done… Even so, I feel privileged to take part in the opening ceremony parade, be in the Olympic village and participate in the greatest sport celebration in the world. It’s a shame the results were not good.
Because of that and many more things, I feel lucky and grateful to sport and to football, and I see 2012 as one of the best years of my life. In the last 12 months I have been able to live many different experiences, most of them very difficult to achieve in a football career, and I just hope I can live many more of them in the future!
You know there is no break in the Premier League these days, so instead of going home for Christmas my family is here with me… I think I’ve been a good tourist guide of London (or so my little cousins say). One of the areas we’ve been to is Camden. I find a new shop, pub, café or market every time I go there. And I always see many different styles in clothing, music or antiques that make Camden one of the places with more visitors in London. Primrose Hill is an area I would recommend 
Between one match and another, New Year’s Eve has arrived. At home, twice: my family, friends and I eat the 12 grapes as it is tradition in my country, but since the UK is one hour behind Spain we try to eat the grapes twice! Although, sometimes, somebody chokes on so many grapes… 
From a personal point of view, I hope 2013 is even better than 2012, in particular I hope not to get injured. Thank you so much to all of you for your support throughout these months! I wish you a great night and a Happy New Year to all!
Juan
PS: Now that it’s time for New Year resolutions, and I’m sure many of you are willing to read more, I encourage you to read Un derbi solidario: 46 historias azules y rojiblancas por una buena causa. You can get it in the official stores of Real Oviedo and Real Sporting and through www.paraninfo.es. A good start to the New Year
