Christian Eriksen Quotes

Guardiola likes footballers who can pass the ball, who have eyes for the best position and the right runs.

If Lukaku is not as good as others with his first touch, then give him a ball that he can handle.

I like to control the ball and analyse the game.

As I'm growing up, going into holding midfield, I'm watching Busquets quite a lot for Barcelona. The way he controls the game, his reading of it, technically, defensively - everything about him cuts him out above the rest. I'm really enjoying watching him.

Circulation of the ball is important, but it's only useful if you can give it to someone who can make the difference.

You will never run more than the ball. The players that don't lose the ball are the most important in the team, and good players decide the game.

The only thing I would like is to have more control of the game in terms of possession.

The lower you go down the levels, the more players think they need to hang on to the ball to prove how talented they are, but that's not football.

When we lose the ball, I don't want to win it back directly. I act smarter now, have better anticipation, and also start earlier when somebody tries to lob the ball over me.

I'm not someone who can do 10 stepovers or backheels - I'm not very interested in that. I'm more fascinated by the simplicity of play because the thing that makes this sport so beautiful.

Usually, the most intelligent player is a midfielder.

Technical players make the game easy. They have a view of the pitch different from other players. They put the last pass for the strikers. They are the players that lose two or three balls in a year.

I'd say my main quality is keeping the ball and my passing.

You gain know-how from playing matches because every moment of a football match has its own rhythm.

Guardiola has helped me so when I receive the ball, I have space.

I need to play smarter and protect the football.

Deco is a very skillful player. He thinks very fast on the pitch.

Obviously, I don't have any real speed to work with so I have to use other things. The modern game is very speed based so as soon as managers see that you haven't got that pace it can be tough.

Football's always been cerebral. The most important thing is thinking fast.

Every footballer enjoys having the ball at their feet. There are times in training you find yourself without the ball. I enjoy that side of it as well. If we can spend more time working with the ball then everyone will enjoy it.

I know people say you have to be big and strong to play in the Premier League, but you cannot just judge a player by their size. You have to look at their other qualities, too.

The most important thing is they have to know why we do things and when. A lot of players are playing intuitively, and I want them to think and know why they do something.

Each coach you have gives a little something to every player, but the one who changed my game the most was Mancini. He taught me to play more outside the area, dropping me back a bit.

To play as an anchor man you have to be extremely disciplined and a lot of the time you're attracted to the ball but can't go there because if you don't get there or it breaks down there is a hole.

It is up to me to adapt and to continue to surprise with my positioning, the timing of my runs, the trajectories, when I call for the ball.