Quotes About Football

Football's in my blood - and eventually I want to be the one making decisions.

I think I can play along with Balotelli, but I do not make the decisions.

My passion for football makes me live it very intensively over 11 months and dedicate myself to that, but I think life allows you to enjoy other things.

Out of all the clubs who were interested, I got the feeling that, deep down, Chelsea showed that they really wanted me. There were lots of reasons I came to Chelsea. They showed a real desire to get me to come here. I didn't have to think about it too much.

I was obsessed with the game somewhere deep inside me even as a young boy. I kind of knew that whatever journey I was on, football was going to be at the middle of it.

I play the number ten role but also off the side or deeper.

The reality is, if you're going to have a defeat on the road, Week 1 is probably the best time to have it.

It would be great to play in a Scotland side that defeated England. That could be another box ticked off for me.

The whole key about the no-huddle is getting first downs because if you're getting three-and-out, it kind of defeats the purpose.

United should have won more than three European Cups. When you look back at some of those semi-final and quarter-final defeats, we could and should have gone on to win the competition.

I'll remember my first league title, my first cup, the Champions League. But also the defeats - that's also part of football.

I remember that in 2017, when we won everything, we started the pre-season badly, with defeats.

At Arsenal, all we think about is how to attack, how to score, how to dribble, how to make a pass. We do not think so much about defence. Probably, for results, this is no good: but I like it.

In football, you cannot only play because of your quality and talent. Defence is a must.

In football, there has always been this idea of having a left-footer and a right-footer in central defence.

In the past, you would have been classed as a sweeper if you were put in the middle of a three-man defence.

Central defence is my favourite position.

As a No9, when youre up front on your own, your job is to keep the defence as far back as possible. Why? Because that gives more space to the No10.

My playing style? I'm a right back who likes to attack but I also know when it's time to attack and when you need to stay behind. I have to put a balance between defence and attack.

My natural position is left-back in a four-man defence, but you have to be ready to help the team in the way the coach wants.

Barcelona need somebody at the back who can defend and has that passion the fans love.

People automatically think that because you attack, you can't defend. Not true.

We never played for 1-0 and then defend. We always went for the second goal and the third.

The most dangerous area is the centre, which has to be either attacked or defended in football, and it's the same in chess.