Chris Smalling Quotes

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.

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was always bemused by our enthusiasm for tackling, because he saw it as the last resort.

I like to control the ball and analyse the game.

I like centre-half, but I can play centre-mid as well.

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

Tackling is my favorite part of the game.

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

English football is so physical and fast that when you see a space, you have to go into it with all your speed.

I don't know much about football but everyone seems to say that it is all about possession.

Soccer is simple, but it is difficult to play simple.

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.

Every player wants to be as complete as possible and goals for a central midfielder are very important.

Football is a game of skill, we kicked them a bit and they kicked us a bit.

My uncle played rugby, and my dad played football, and they used to argue which game was the roughest - and everybody agreed rugby was. It's a great team sport, and to be successful, every person has to play in the same level.

Technique is everything and we play a contact sport.

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.

It does not matter to me. I can play from the left, the right, or attack through the middle.

There are many talented midfielders but not the kind of playmaker I am.

I don't think the physical part of English football would be a problem. When you get the ball, you need to be ready. The defenders here are very tough. I like that.

As a youngster as I was a centre-half, I liked being on the ball and coming out from the back. I took chances so I got put in midfield and then I was playing all over the pitch so adjusted wherever I needed to play.

When I go into games as a forward, my job is really clear, and I just have to execute. But as a midfielder, you get to sort of enjoy the game more, and you get to feel the game and dictate the play.

For me it's best to play midfield but if the team needs it, I can play anywhere.

When I play, I like to use my pace and to link up with my team-mates.

Sometimes when you play on the wing it gets a bit isolated and you can't help as much. But if you play a bit more central I can get the ball a lot more and help a lot more.

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.