Riyad Mahrez Quotes

For me football is more about making the right pass at the right time.

Rather than opera, football is more like ballet or a chess game. You can really see it in a team like Arsenal, especially when Dennis Bergkamp was playing. He seemed to be able to read the game like a chessboard and knew where a player would be several seconds later and put the ball there for him.

I like to control the ball and analyse the game.

Every good, successful player, especially an attacking player, has a well-developed sense of space and time.

I spend the entire 90 minutes looking for space on the pitch. I'm always between the opposition's two holding midfielders and thinking, 'The defence is here, so I get the ball and I go there to where the space is.'

Playing me in different positions helped me to get in the head of the others players: to know what they're thinking, where and how they are going to move.

I'm always looking to know what I'm going to do before I receive the ball in order to make my team play better.

When you play eleven a side, you might go through a game with very few touches, but with street football, you're always involved in the game, so it is a great way to improve your skill and to learn how to create and use space, as the pitch is very small.

This is football, so you need to be clever to understand the moment and win games.

I try to have a picture when I receive the ball and know where everyone is. That's one of the most important things for a midfielder.

It's not just about showing people what you can do on the ball in those wider positions, it's about gaining the full understanding of each position and what it takes to get that spot.

Obviously, I don't have any real speed to work with so I have to use other things. The modern game is very speed based so as soon as managers see that you haven't got that pace it can be tough.

You can't say, 'You're a scorer, you score. You rebound, you rebound.' Basketball is more than that. Basketball is knowing the next step, knowing the next play, knowing how to make things happen.

By playing in the street, the level of Asian football can absolutely improve, as you will get more technical players. They will be quicker, more creative, and after succeeding in the street, it will be a piece of cake for them to do well eleven a side.

Don't let the ball hit you. Catch it or get out of the way. And if you get out of the way, that's when you have to stop playing.

Usually, the most intelligent player is a midfielder.

If I have the ball in my hands, I'll make a play. If don't, I'll try to get in position to make a play. I think that's what it comes down to.

Yes, many times an assist is more difficult than a goal; you need to find the right space and measure the force used in order to provide your teammate with the right position in order to score.

Not everything is seen that happens on the pitch - the teammate in a good position, where it might get dangerous, how a situation develops.

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

Guardiola likes footballers who can pass the ball, who have eyes for the best position and the right runs.

Football is always moving and you've got to keep up with it.

If you want to play dominant football, you need to get the ball, think fast, and play quick combinations in small spaces.

There are a lot of things you learn from playing wide. You also understand the way that you can coordinate with the front three or front two.

A big part of my game is movement. The players that I play with understand that and took the time to see where I like to run, and it's worked out.