Kevin De Bruyne Quotes

The midfield is the heartbeat of a football team, it's the centre of the action, so you can't just do one thing.

When you get into the game you've got be thinking, when I get into the attacking third I'm gonna be freakin' creative.

Watch me, and I only really like the ball into feet. I don't like running in behind so much.

Football is about scoring, and if you want to do that, you have to go forward.

Penalties are easy if you score, but in open play, we create chances as well.

I like to be in contact with the ball, have possession, to play.

In the midfield, I'm not the most comfortable playing with my back to the goal, and in the midfield you find that ball a lot.

Italy do not only defend; they can attack, too. They have attacking qualities, and they create chances.

This is one of the challenges we have: knowing that playing without the ball is just as important as when you have the ball.

When you're at a club like Liverpool, it's always about what you can do with the ball.

If I don't get the service or if I don't the ball in the box, where I want it, I start drifting into midfield. I go and look for the ball. I try to be important for the team in other areas.

When you play with good players, they will always create chances for the forwards to score.

Football is not about suffering. It's about enjoyment. Control the ball, be friendly with it, try to attack, try to score goals. Of course defending is part of it, but you can defend in a lot of ways.

As a player I was taught the importance of working four or five passes within your team and then stretching the play. That's something I believe in strongly as a coach.

Sometimes in midfield, it's nice because you do get a little bit more of the ball, and maybe out wide you rely on people to get you the ball.

That is my style of play, my strength: hold up, playing with my back to goal.

I like to control the ball and analyse the game.

To be successful you have to find a good balance between offence and defence, to work without the ball, but our main tactic is to work with the ball, to be in possession.

I think the Brazil system is similar to the one we use at Liverpool, with lots of movement, players open out wide, and quality midfielders who join the attack and score goals.

Normally, I play in midfield where I'm challenging the players and trying to take the ball.

There are a lot of things you learn from playing wide. You also understand the way that you can coordinate with the front three or front two.

I have to open the game from my position. It's really important to play with the ball.

You have got to be one step ahead, as a striker, to create that space you need. Apart from the ball, when you're a striker, it is space that's your best friend. You need space.

I love good flowing football where the whole team is engaged.

I preach about getting the ball in the air.