Possession Game Quotes

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.

When we've got the puck, they can't score.

Football's always easier when you've got the ball.

When you've got the ball 65-70% of the time, it's a football death for the other team...It's death by football.

When you control the ball you control the score

If you play on possession, you don't have to defend, because there's only one ball

In Spain, the game's a lot more open. They score a lot more goals. They play football more. Here in Italy, they are much more concerned with tactics and strategy, and sometime we don't play football.

Some teams can't or don't pass the ball. What are you playing for? What's the point? That's not football. Combine, pass, play. That's football - for me, at least.

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

We need the ball even to defend; that's our objective: having the ball and having it as far as possible from our goal as possible.

I am a believer in passing the ball on the ground, I was lucky to be part of teams like that at Arsenal, with the French national team and with Monaco and at Barcelona. I know you can win in other ways, but I believe that is the way football should be played.

You can't win without the ball.

I think my history as a coach shows I like players who are gifted technically and have courage when it comes to being in possession of a football. That is a key quality for me.

European teams have always shied away from South American football. They struggle to get to grips with it. The South American game is more technical and about keeping possession, while European football is more dynamic, physical and direct.

The Spaniards have been reduced to aiming aimless balls into the box.