"I grew up with English football, I supported Swansea, and then switched to Arsenal, but I fell out of love with them when they got interesting. I think I preferred them dogged, resolute and the butt of jokes, rather than the flash, saucy, continental side they became. When I was growing up football existed in the festering end of Britain's social spectrum, so it's unbelievable how it's changed."
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/12/sport.obsmag special8
Jorge almost could have written the middle bit