Juan Mata Quotes

Obviously, football and soccer seem to clash a lot, but soccer was great for me. It's a game that you play with triangles. You make a pass thinking that the person you pass the ball to is going to make the next pass.

Some lads were dribblers, some lads just loved scoring goals, whereas I enjoyed and took pride in practicing my passing and that. That's how it was.

People expect you to dribble past 10 players and put the ball in the back of the net.

If you're playing for five hours you don't want to score goals all the time and I loved dribbling. I could score a goal, but I preferred to dribble.

I just say I'd like to be an attacking midfielder.

Normally, midfielders only pass the ball, but I dribble as well.

I can win the ball. I can clear the ball.

I am a defender, but I can play the ball. I have a good technique.

I'm a player who likes to get on the ball and use it.

I'm a versatile player, I'm a technical player, and I play with my head, but I can progress further.

In soccer, you have to be sly.

My favourite position is as midfielder, playing with Xabi and Khedira.

In Germany, my focus was mainly on dribbling.

I'm never going to be one of these players who dribbles past three and bends it into the top corner from 25 yards. That's not me.

I only try to play good soccer.

Football is a game of moments now and if someone does four step-overs, they've had an incredible game. That's not something I do.

I'm good with the ball, I can score.

Everyone is different but I love to watch that type of football: the clever players, the technical players. The beautiful game.

I've always been a player on the move. It's not because I like running. I like getting the ball.

I like to watch the great players, the ones who are technically good and understand the game. I try to see how they move.

I try to get early contact and keep it on the ground. I like to keep the ball down as much as I can.

For me, soccer was a dance.

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

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

I always dribble for a reason, and I always head for the goal.