Positional Play Quotes

In tactics and training, we do more with Conte. We work a lot of tactical positions, and we know exactly what we have to do on the pitch, where I have to go, and where the defenders have to go. We know exactly what to do.

I'd say I am a fly half. As regards being 12 for England, I've not tried to play any different. I guess I've been like another 10. Obviously, you do some things differently, and you might not have your hands on the ball as much - but you're still in the game and constantly communicating.

Combination is a soul of chess.

If I'm played out of position, I'll always give 100%, but everyone knows I would rather play down the middle.

In England, you might have a possession game of six v. six, and it's like headless chickens: people running around everywhere just trying to keep the ball and be strong in tackles. But in Spain, you always stay in your position. You're still in your shape for every drill.

Marc Gasol, he's more of a true center. There are guys who play that traditional center role, but the game is also played differently now.

Capablanca did not apply himself to opening theory (in which he never therefore achieved much), but delved deeply into the study of end-games and other simple positions which respond to technique rather than to imagination.

Alekhine's real genius is in the preparation and construction of a position, long before combinations or mating attacks come into consideration at all.

My very first book was a games collection of Anatoly Karpov. On the whole I was attracted by positonal play with some tactics, and already then I was aiming for universality.

We got anxious at the end of the weekend in our urgency to try to score the winning goal. Ended up playing far too many long balls forward. That style of play doesn't suit Manchester United. We must continue to play football and enjoy the game. If we do that, eventually things will come right for us.

Often, in the Ruy Lopez, one must be patient, wait and carry on a lengthy and wearisome struggle.

Not many know this, but in training sessions, I like to play in the center-back position sometimes. I think I'm good at that position, and my father used to be a central defender. Some people don't realize that if you play in that position, you can better understand how the defender thinks.

I do not play chess – I fight at chess. Therefore, I willingly combine the tactical with the strategic, the fantastic with the scientific, the combinative with the positional, and I aim to respond to the demands of each given position.

I pass and I move, I help you, I look for you, I stop, I raise my head, I look and, above all, I open up the pitch...The one who has the ball, is the master of the game...Thats the school of Joan Vilà, of Albert Benaiges, of Johan Cruijff, of Pep Guardiola

Nowadays the dynamic element is more important in chess - players more often sacrifice material to obtain dynamic compensation.

When you're playing against a team that has two great central defenders, the best option is to play without a striker.

You've got to be able to play in the box and play deep.

I don't think I have a favorite chess move, other than checkmate, because each move is part of a combination of other moves. Just like I don't have a favorite piece, because they all work together. I mean, I love myself; I am the king on the board, but other pieces do different things and they all work together, so it's not one particular move unless it's checkmate because usually there's an answer. You know, chess is about questions and answers.

Arsenal have been literally passed to death.

Chelsea are not made to play football. We're good on the counter, a little bit like Real against Bayern.

We are trying to get away from those traditional centre, power forward type things.

Positional play is good for training, but in games, to win matches, you need someone who can go past defenders and take chances.

Defensive midfield can be the one position that's easier to play as you get older.

It was Thomas Tuchel's first season as coach and I played centrally always. The whole team had a great year, one that I enjoyed a lot. Our style has changed a bit, from trying to score within five seconds to a more calm and in some regard more educated style of play. We try to find the right moment - and then we explode.

At seven, I played centre-back. When you're so young, though, it's more to enjoy the training and to get a feel for the game. It's not heavy on tactics of a position. We were playing on a half pitch, seven against seven or eight against eight, so they say you're a centre-back, but it's not like the real definition.