Diego Costa Quotes

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

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.

Lets be honest: I'm an athlete, not an entertainer as much. So as an athlete, I am a guy who likes the physical confrontation of the football field. I like playing nose-guard; I like having two 350 pound guys trying to rip my head off.

English football is very, very difficult. It is very disciplined.

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.

I don't need to hit people in order to play good football. I'm not a boxer after all.

As far as I can judge, English football is not for everybody. You need to have the lungs for it, you need to have the strength for it.

English footballers are honest - they will run for 90-odd minutes - but that is not always what you need. Sometimes you need to rein back a bit and try and control the game with your passing.

In football, there is always friction, collisions, contact. But I am used to that.

I see a lot of fouls on Messi, and he's not the type to overreact.

The referee will now keep track of the time on the field and the shootouts have finally been banned.

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

I was a hockey player growing up. Being a big guy and being imposing, I had to use my size to protect my teammates.

I always equate wrestling to having been in the Marine Corps.

In football, like in life, you must learn to play within the rules of the game.

For me, it's fine to be aggressive and play hard. As long as you're not getting personal, it's fine, and you can do whatever you can to upset the opposition.

I'd say that La Liga is slightly more technical than the Premier League.

These days, I'm always trying to have lots of touches, to be involved, and to play my football for 90 minutes.

Football in England is much more direct that in Spain - not just in terms of tactics or style but in the overall approach.

In any professional level competition, soccer players, you've got to know when to stop.

We need to learn that in the Champions League, the referees are vigilant and quick to whistle.

If you watch me play, you'll see how often I get kicked. I don't go off the pitch and cut myself to act like I've been kicked.

In England, you might have a possession game of six v. six, and it's like headless chickens: people running around everywhere just trying to keep the ball and be strong in tackles. But in Spain, you always stay in your position. You're still in your shape for every drill.

In football, you get criticised if you are sent off. It's my style of play, and nobody can make me change that. Even if I get another red card, then that happens. You become cleverer, maybe look more, and since my red card, I think things have improved.

The English league itself is very strong physically, very demanding.