Naby Keita Quotes

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

The sport of soccer in general is very combative. People don't realize it's very one-on-one a lot of times.

The most important thing to me is how hard we go after the ball and take care of it.

I am a central midfielder, and that's where I like to be.

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.

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

Any good attacker will always beat a defender who's face-marking you.

Football is my base; that's where I learned to be tough. I was a strong safety, and that's what I do: I hit people. The mentality is football, the wrestling is precision.

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

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.

I learned a lot in the Bundesliga, just playing with these very physical players, playing quickly.

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.

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

Striker is my favourite position, but once I get on the pitch, whether it's out on the wing or in the middle, I just want to enjoy my football and try and produce as good a performance as possible.

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

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

Growing up I've been playing as an attacking midfielder, more central in the midfield. I wouldn't say if I'm most comfortable there but that's where I grew up playing.

I used to play rugby, which requires a lot of physical strength. The game requires you to get aggressive.

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

People say that Rooney could have been like Lionel Messi, a more prolific goalscorer who dribbles past opponents more. But they are different characters. You will never see Messi snapping around the heels of an opponent to win the ball back deep in his own half. Wayne does that all the time, and sometimes that enthusiasm will count against him.

When I played, I was an English-style centre-half. Always with my heart, always with my fighting spirit.

I don't take the ball in the middle of the pitch and dribble past six guys.

It's very physical in the midfield, but I've come into my own now, and I can handle it in there.