Quotes from Nuno Espirito Santo

When you try to build an identity based on one idea, the easy part is to stick with the good things that you do.

It's very hard to rank performances. It's very difficult, and it doesn't really matter if you rank performances.

When you realise that the ball is faster than you, you say to yourself, 'OK, I love the game. I want to go on in this game, but not as a player.'

Knowing that the teams in front of us are sometimes better than you, you have to recognise that and be humble. It's part of the game.

Our ambition is to win every game regardless of the opponent.

I want to thank everybody for every day that I have spent at Valencia CF. It has been an honour and a source of pride for me.

What we are here for is to improve, to work as a team, stay humble and work hard, trying to achieve the best performance that we can in every game.

When you win, you want to repeat it.

Representing your country is what you want.

If you embrace a project that will require time and patience, then you need something to work on. So the first step of the project is to create an identity. If you don't have an identity, then today you want this player and tomorrow another one. If you have an idea and a shape, then this is how you develop an identity.

My interpretation of football is to stay humble, work hard, and things will come.

I was late, as a player, many times. If you have bad traffic, what are you doing to do? Make a miracle? Sometimes it happens.

The barrier of communication is terrible if you don't speak the language. You cannot reach a player with a translator.

I consider myself a happy person, yes.

If somebody asks for a photo, with a smile, it is nothing.

To be called up to the national team is what you want.

When you have a small, balanced squad, you can work better. First of all everyone is involved in every squad list, a meeting can be a good training session.

I respect the people who work with me, and I respect the crowds in the stadiums - I just live the game and try to advise my players in the right moments. If that means I have to raise my arms and jump, I will raise my arms and jump if that is the best way to help them.

There is no point staying on the past.

When you have someone that manages, coaches you, and you follow, and you believe, and you do everything that you can because you believe in that idea in your leader, that stays forever. That is the impact Jose Mourinho had on me.

I'm a coach who likes to have the ball, but what I really think is, 'How can you be in charge of the game?' I think, but maybe I am the only one, that the defensive process can take care of the game. Why is that? Because teams wait to defend. If you create something where you go to defend, to steal the ball where you want, it's different.

Golf is a good time, valued time.

The beginning of everything is our defensive organisation. The clean sheet is always the first objective that we have in the game. Always.

Even when you are not having the ball, you have to stay consistent, organised, and that's what keeps you in the game.