Fabinho Quotes

I think that Sarri's formation and playing with a midfield three have been fundamental for me.

There is no Benitez 'method.' We try to be more solid in defense without losing the quality in attack.

I often felt as a player in a 4-4-2, you end up being outnumbered in midfield and chasing the ball, so as a manager I liked wingbacks to push forward; it gives the midfield player on the ball three or four options.

I like the idea of playing with a bit more tactical freedom, either in a deeper role or supporting the strikers more often.

You can't play man to man against Liverpool and out-pass them. You have to keep your shape and stop them.

I like entertaining football but, at the same time, you can't concede goals. That's a tricky balance to find.

I would prefer to play for and against an attacking team, but I am now used to playing against defensive teams.

As full-backs, we like to get high and wide. It's the style of football that I enjoy playing.

Any coach in my era will reference or look at Guardiola's teams. If you look at the style of play, he has had a huge influence on football. And he has innovated it again.

When you play the top sides you cannot afford to be as open as 4-4-2 can leave you. Consequently teams adapt their formation.

I don't like getting pinned back with a line of four in midfield. You risk losing too much space.

Someone said that my coaching is a combination of Milan's defensive discipline and the Dutch propensity for attacking football, and I think that is a fair description.

United are capable of setting up a low block and making it difficult, but they're also capable of coming out and pressing high.

The last thing you want as a striker is the opposing team putting all 10 players behind the ball.

English football is different: always on the attack. Although one thing is clear. The best football is the Italian.

I've played under different managers, different styles, and most of my career, I was asked to play long.

I come from a Napoli team who scored 104 goals. Do you think I'm going to be hyper-defensive with Real Madrid? A team that creates chances and is great in possession is not defensive.

It is vital to maintain possession and to win it back as soon as possible, because if we win it high up, then the opposition has to run 70 metres.

Pochettino likes to play from the back, with the buildup, have the ball.

In my period at Chelsea, I was sometimes the one who switched sides because we were playing with two left-footed guys on the wings with myself and Damian Duff.

I always tried to defend high up the pitch, to be in the opposition's half and play the game there.

In the Premier League you need creative players to open games up.

What Liverpool do really well is they try to get you inside but then close you down.

Now and again, you may be picking a pass or two in behind, making something happen, but when we're attacking - especially at Liverpool - I'm focusing on protection, being disciplined, being careful, worrying about counter-attacks, things like that.

I don't want just pure roll out of the back four. I want productive mixed play... how many ways can you affect a game?