Quotes About Growth

There is no need to feel defeated at 40, 50 or 60. I'm having the greatest time in the second half of my life.

Big defeats make us learn.

Sometimes you learn the most from your defeats.

There are those who say that defeats teach a lot, but also learning to win is not bad.

I still have much to learn, especially about my defence.

When I first came to Arsenal, I didn't know how to defend.

I can be a better defender. It's one of those things where I like to always find something wrong so I can get better.

I think as a central defender you grow as a player.

To play the game at this level, I've got to continue to get better. I've got to stay consistent, still work on my ballhandling and I've got to become a great defender.

Eventually, I think I'll probably end up at centre-half. By the time I get to 28 or 29, I imagine I'll be a defender.

I wasn't a natural defender. I was a striker as a kid. I have learned a lot but there is more to learn, of course.

I wasn't a defender and I didn't think of myself as one.

I was really good, I had a coach who said to me, 'If you want to be a top player, you will need to play as a central defender. If you want to be a good player, you will be a midfielder.' I think he was wrong but, maybe as a central defender, I could be much better, I don't know!

Since my early days, I've been used to playing with older boys and strong defenders.

You want to play against the best defenders and the best teams. You want to test yourself.

Throughout my career, I hope to see the best defenders.

I realize I have to continue to work on defense. I think a lot of people have to work on defense.

I couldn't shoot and I couldn't score in high school. All I could do is dunk and play defense.

With every look I can get and every defense I play against I get more experience.

I really wasn't a good defensive player at all.

I've definitely gotten better, to where everyone can see that I'm not a defensive liability.

If you're defensive, you defend what you have, but you get nothing more. You don't get bigger.

We learn by our problems. We correct our deficiencies if there are any.

Knowing who I am as a player and working on my deficiencies, communication is something I try to pride myself on.