Crystal Dunn Quotes

I am not a player who goes on mazy runs - I like to defend. I like to do a job for the team.

I feel like I've improved immensely in terms of my defending, not only in one-versus-ones but also with my positioning.

I've always liked taking the ball out of defence and I will carry on doing that but at the end of the day I'm a defender, and that's what I want to be known as - a defender, getting in the blocks and the headers that people don't recognise I do, the dirty stuff that every defender should do and should be good at.

You've gotta play a head game; especially blocking shots, you've gotta make it hard. You're playing against the best of the best: they're not gonna go straight to the basket, do a layup. You've gotta lure them into some shots.

The key is developing your game in both directions: in the build-up, joining the attack at the right moment and also in defence. You have to win the one-on-one situations and need the required pace and technique. These are the decisive factors for a defender.

It's how I've been playing my whole life, guarding the best player on the other team.

I've always looked up to John Terry; he's a massive defender and a rock. His one-v-one defending and reading of the game have really educated me. I watch a lot of clips of him.

To be useful in defence, to win back the ball, you don't always have to go sliding into the tackle. It's also about your positioning; sometimes all you have to do is take a step back.

In the centre, you play more with your back to the opponent's goal and have to move into the gaps.

When I play against a winger, because I'm a winger myself, I understand what they are going to do before they try and go past me, so it makes it a lot easier for me.

I've played against Aguero a couple of times. He starts behind you so he's always offside, but you don't know where he is. You look behind to the right and he'll go to your left. He's so tough to find. You've got to learn and work out how to stop them.

When you haven't got the ball, while we're defending, sometimes I am not always where I need to be.

I've added a bit more composure on the ball and defensively got a bit cuter and improved in one-on-ones.

Defending is definitely an art.

Concentrate on defense because the offense will come.

I wasn't a natural defender. I was a striker as a kid. I have learned a lot but there is more to learn, of course.

I'm a defender first and foremost, and if I'm playing right centre-half, I am even more of a defender than the wing-backs.

As a defender I try to keep clean sheets.

I coach defending an awful lot but I don't think too many teams in the Premier League or in the world of football actually coach defending anymore, certainly not the full-backs.

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.

Boxing is like chess. You encourage your opponent to make mistakes so you can capitalise on it. People think you get in the ring and see the red mist, but it's not about aggression. Avoiding getting knocked out is tactical.

I have the mind-set that a guard can't stick me. So I watch the bigs and see how they like to play. If you're a shot blocker, then I jump into you. If you take charges, then I pull up for the midrange.

There is nothing more important than staying alert, reading your opponent, that counts for both inside and outside the ring.

My main improvement on defense has just been my coaches. They've been teaching me defensive schemes, how to guard guys, and how to use my length.

Defending is mostly about focus.