Winning Possession Quotes

In football you need to look to make life difficult for the opponent.

As a winger, you want to get at defenders and make it hard for them. Instead of them going forwards, they have to defend against you.

I like to be active in space in behind the opposition's midfield. That's where I can hurt the opponent most of all.

I want the ball for 90 minutes. When I don't have the ball, I go high pressing because I want the ball.

I believe the most important thing for the defender is to take the ball away from the opposing team, no matter what, and not to allow any space or give any occasions for opponents to score goals.

You can talk about systems until you're blue in the face but that's secondary - if you're closing down, if you're first to the ball, it doesn't really matter what system you've got.

Against West Brom, you are up against very tall defenders, who are very strong, and you have to be strong, too, to keep the ball.

I like to win the ball back for the team and I can contribute going forward.

I've always said it, and the whole football world knows that Cavani is a centre-forward and that he has proven his worth in that position. Having said that, Cavani has shown other characteristics that can help the team, like winning the ball back, helping out defensively.

Getafe is an uncomfortable rival for Barca and for anyone. They are experts in winning second balls.

To be honest, it was only when I was first in the French Ligue 1 that my manager and other people started to say, 'Okay, N'Golo recovers a lot of balls.' Before that, I didn't consider it to be my job in the team.

The formula to beat the press is simple; it's the execution that's tough. If you have the quality to do so, you pass your way through it. And if you don't, you just boot it over the top. And then it becomes a game of winning 'second balls'.

Wherever I am on the field, I'm just trying to be an attacking presence and constantly be on their back four and try to make a difference in that way. So it doesn't matter where I play for my club.

I'm always in the 'butcher' role. But the only way to stop Messi one-on-one is to foul him. Otherwise, if I'm alone, I'll only get the ball one in 20 times. I have to use other weapons, I know the best way to stop him. I know he does not like playing with his back to goal, you must be right on top of him when he gets the ball.

If you're putting the puck in an awkward place for someone, that's right away, advantage: you.

Part of my job leading the line for Watford is to occupy centre-halves - by that I mean those battles with Huth, say, to try to win headers when the ball is played forward. But I also look to bring centre-halves out of position to the flanks and make space for my team-mates in the middle.

When someone like Lukaku gets you in the position where he's holding you off it is key to try and nick it in front of him.