Phil Jones Quotes

I am a midfielder who is mainly involved in the defensive phases, even if I also like to help build moves - I would say that my foremost quality is my generosity.

I know when I step into midfield I have to sharpen my feet up and be more aware of what's around me, at centre back it's more about timing, positioning and communication.

As a defender I try to keep clean sheets.

Especially going from an attacking player to a defensive player, your whole mindset has to change. You have to work on one-v-one defending versus one-v-one attacking.

I like every aspect of defense; I enjoy shutting down the offense.

Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.

I do like to play and pass the ball. But first and foremost I see myself as a defender: blocking, tackling, heading.

I'm a player who can score and assist, even if I know I'll have to help out defensively too.

One thing was crystal clear to me: if you're centre-back, you first of all have to perform your task.

There are plenty of good central defenders around and I enjoy watching them.

You have to defend the perimeter guys otherwise you're going to struggle getting playing time or staying on the court.

Casemiro has to cover the gaps left by everyone. That's balance for me; to make sure the game doesn't go mad.

Obviously, I try to play the game in the way that I can help the team. I know I play a little bit more defensively now, more in the role as a team player, but I think I'm doing really well in that.

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.

Really what we've done is establish a tradition in Carolina of playing defense.

You need to be able to defend. It's massively important, and at Arsenal, we've sometimes been guilty of forgetting that.

It is my job to score goals but that is only one part of the team.

Defending is definitely an art.

Defense is one man guarding the ball and four others helping him

I give assists; I create chances, because I can't forget my position. I play still on the wing, not No 9. I play for the team, and everyone can see that.

When we have a defensive situation in which we are conceding too many goals, it is not just a problem in the defense but the entire team, starting with the coach.

When I guard LeBron, I used to always want him to shoot, but he would just make the right play. He's legendary for making the right play, and it's really hard to guard when you're a team player.

Playing an ultra-defensive side is very difficult.

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.

I'm a type of player that tries to do everything a lot to help our team. Setting screens to get guys open, trying to block shots.