Alexander Ovechkin Quotes

One of the hardest things for a ball player to do is to accept his role

Obviously my former place in Washington, you got stars like Alex Ovechkin. Those are great challenges because you're looking at a player who does something very unique and trying to grow him in areas.

Playing left midfield a lot at West Ham has been tough but the manager has put me there and I've got every faith in what he's doing.

I am a professional player, and I will naturally do everything to be in goal.

I feel like, even if something goes wrong, I have confidence in myself and my team that we'll fix it.

When you get to that level, it's not a matter of talent anymore - because all the players are so talented - it's about preparation, about playing smart and making good decisions. If I don't believe it, then they don't need me on the court. I've just got to believe that in my heart.

My smile is my favorite part of my body. I think a smile can make your whole body.

You name it, I've got it. Some players have to be 100 percent (to play), but I don't.

A system depends on the players you have. I played 4-3-3 with Ajax, 2-3-2-3 with Barcelona and a 4-4-2 with AZ. I'm flexible. The philosophy stays the same though. I don't think that you can adapt it to every possible situation. You need the right mindset, and it depends on how the players see the coach and vice versa. The coach is the focal point of the team but you need to have an open mind, and so do all the players. Everyone needs to work together to achieve a common goal.

If I weren't acting, I think I'd want to be a professional hockey player.

I think the most important beauty lesson I've learned from my mom is to be happy in what you do.

We may not be the best conditioned team in the country, but our players think they are.

We’ve been in all the big games, we’ve been in small games, and we’ve treated them all the same and I think that mentality is what’s helped us get to the point where we are now.

I have one goal with all my decision: to do whatever is needed to win today's game. I'm loyal to my players, and I stick with people because consistency builds confidence. But if I feel I have to make a change in order to win, I'll do it. I don't ask players to like my decisions, only to accept that I'm doing my job with one thing in mind - winning.

I've already developed trust in my teammates -as a player and as a person.

Liking who you are and liking what you do can make you an incredibly successful person.

I think every year I become happier because I become more comfident and more comfortable in my own skin.

I'm really happy in my own skin. There's a lot of judgment that can come from outside sometimes, and there's media scrutiny that is placed on a lot of women in the public eye, and I just couldn't care less. I really couldn't care less. 'I would sometimes say in my twenties, 'oh, I couldn't care less', but I think I probably did. Now I genuinely don't and that's a lovely, liberating thing to experience.

Managers are never 100 percent in control. You're at the mercy of the players. When you're a player, you're driving. I'm the navigator. I hardly ever think about driving anymore, unless there's two out in the bottom of the ninth.

People should be happy to see you when you show up to a club because you're a good person. And stop caring about what the industry is "looking for". Just say what you think is funny. .

Some people think I look like a sweet potato, I consider myself a spud with a heart of gold.

Always I believe that I can play better. But I am happy.

I used to be very self-conscious. I used to wish I was pretty. My cousin Georgia always taught me that if you smile, people will like you. Sometimes people will say something you don't like, and you get angry a bit, but you just smile. You let it go by, even if you really would like to choke 'em. By smiling, I think I've made more friends than if I was the other way.

Shake off those gloomy feelings. Drive them away. Fix your mind and pleasures upon what is before you.All is bright if you will think it so. All is happy if you will make it so. Do not dream. It is too ideal, too imaginary. Dreaming by day, I mean. Live in the world you inhabit. Look upon things as they are. Take them as you find them. Make the best of them. Turn them to your advantage.

That's how it is with the English: if you score against them you're a good player; if you don't, you're not.