Quotes from Lothar Matthaus

In Germany, we laugh at it. Mourinho just selects a topic to moan about - transfers, team preparation, a rival coach. But Pep Guardiola wants it all to be about the performance of his team. He's obsessed by possession, like at Bayern Munich, and will not compromise on that at Manchester City.

Pep is not the best coach in the world. I prefer Mourinho. He is the No.1, because Mourinho is more transparent and more direct than Guardiola.

If someone plays six World Cups, they deserve to be congratulated.

Football in Italy at the end of the '80s and beginning of '90s was the best all over the world.

I often have the feeling that Ozil does not feel comfortable in the Germany jersey, that he is not free, almost as if he does not want to play at all. There is no heart, no joy, no passion.

Guardiola won so many trophies at Barcelona that he had a huge impact.

I'm always pretty cautious when people say that one player could single-handedly help his side to a trophy.

When I'm with friends, when I have time, I like to play soccer, and I think it's still my passion, still my love. I'm not crazy to do it every day, but sometimes when I see the ball, I like to kick the ball.

Soccer is the main sport in Mexico; it's very important for the Mexican people. It's their passion - it's their religion - and Mexican football was always one of the best in the world.

My wife is from Russia. I like the country, the mentality of the people.

It is possible to stop Messi. Teams do it when he plays for Argentina. But the Barcelona Messi is different.

When Messi gets the chance to go one against one, he is very difficult to stop on his own.

If Messi is on top form, then his team can win everything.

Mario Mandzukic works so hard for his team. He's not only a No. 9 but also runs behind the defenders and drops into midfield.

He just has the knack, the ability, to do something special and crucial. This is Messi.

Andres Iniesta is the magic man, not just for Barcelona but also for Spain.

The typical German coach wants things done one way - his way.

I played the 1980 UEFA Cup final for Borussia Monchengladbach against Eintracht Frankfurt, who had the legendary South Korean Cha Bum-kun as their forward. He was the face of Frankfurt then. He had pace, great technique, was a great dribbler, and scored goals. And most importantly, he was the ultimate team man.

Asian players have more in common with the Bundesliga than with Italian or Spanish leagues because they are wedded to the team cause, are hard-working and disciplined.

Klopp knows how to motivate players. He speaks to them individually, gets their confidence up, makes them believe and grow in quality. He makes his players feel happy. And they then take that happiness onto the field. He builds that into them.

If there's one thing that fans like to see, it's a player who can run at full speed towards the goal.

I'm proud I was first to be named World Player of the Year, in 1991.

Toni Kroos leaving the German national team would hurt me very much.

We want to see football. If people want to see acting, they go somewhere else, not the stadium.