Fabio Cannavaro Quotes

I think you have to be more flexible to be a pro coach because once you pay the guy the money, whether he can backpedal the way you want him to or whatever, his style of play may not suit you, but you still are going to play him, and he is going to be a part of your team.

People talk about tactics, but when you look at it, tactics are just players. You change things so that the team can get the most out of the skills they have to offer, but you don't go any further than that.

If we kept all the players I liked personally, we'd be a lot worse team over the years.

When I was in the second unit, it just took me time to find my rhythm just playing with a lot of new guys. But once I got in the starting lineup, it kind of just opened up a little bit.

When a player joins Real Madrid's first team, they're often under pressure to be an instant success. By joining Castilla, I had the chance to understand the club and get to know the players, the culture, the country and the language.

People seem to expect when that happens, for players to be brought in that are so much better than the ones that have left. In the end they might be better but in the beginning they might be worse. Because they all have to gel and get to know each other and get to know you.

At a massive club like Liverpool, people will come and go. It is our job to keep the wheels moving and momentum going.

Any new coach takes about six months to adjust to the system, and players also need time to understand his methods.

You never know about team speed until you get out there. You don't know who is a slow learner. A kid may not be very bright or he may be real bright but he doesn't know football. You've got to find out all those nuances and how they learn.

I didn't get a training camp in Chicago. I was behind a lot in the plays, in the team's chemistry. Everything in the organization was going in a different direction.

You obviously never know when you have a lot of changes to a team, but the new guys have come in here and they look great. They work hard. But the league is so competitive now so it's hard to predict.

Every player needs a little time to adjust to new teammates and the mentality of the coach when you change clubs.

The head coach is the chemist.

I think sometimes when trades are made the beginning of the season on paper, they look great. It just takes time. Sometimes the process by the media or outside influences or sources want it to be now. Sometimes it doesn't work that way.

Regarding my coaching philosophy, I think it is important to adapt to the team/players and the culture in the country where you are coaching, but to keep possession is a key issue wherever you are.

I want to build a team who can play home and away the same.

But it's been a learning experience; learning the NBA, learning the travel schedule and certain coaches, their styles, what they like to run out of timeouts, personnel, tendencies.

Why does it get assumed that Zidane is a figurehead and everything Real achieve is down to the talent of the squad?

It's no good if you are at a so-called best team, but you sit on a bench.

To be honest, I had a brilliant group of players at Hibs and the support were very fair with me. They didn't make it difficult.

Maybe sometimes it can take a player a bit longer to get comfortable and to get to know everyone and exactly what he needs to do.

Every player needs time to settle in and to get used to a new club, from knowing the league to the other players - everything.

Obviously when you join a team everything is new and you have to get to know the people and how they operate.

I understand very well that if you are a national coach, you want to use all the opportunities that you have to meet up with your team.

When you have a new coach, a couple new guys, and a young team, the frustrating part throughout the year is the up and down.