Stan Van Gundy Quotes

To say we have to play a certain way, or try to, every game is great in theory, but depending what players you have got you have to play to their strengths and cover up their weaknesses.

As a coach, you have to play to how your team is built.

I have a lot of admiration for those who build tactical systems, but I always thought the most important thing a good coach must do is build the team around the characteristics of his players.

The head coach is the chemist.

I think it's pretty unique to see a coach adjust to the talent he has and maximize the abilities of players he has and help them keep growing.

There are small things that every coach brings when they go to a new team. Like, you need to press this way or the other way.

From the standpoint that you try to adjust your offense to your quarterback, you try to adjust your football team around your players. You do the best you can with the hand that you have, and you've got to add some parts along the way.

I adapt my idea of football to my players, not adapt my players in my idea of football. It's important because there are others players that must play. The players are the most important things in football. I adapt my idea within my players.

Every coach has his own ideas about managing the team and how it plays.

People often talk about a coach's philosophy, but generally, I think managers look at the players they have and then decide on their style.

You buy the right players for the system that you believe will be successful.

For me, the goal is to make the most of each player, play them in the position they feel best in. And then repeat, repeat, repeat.

When I arrived at Bayern he asked me: 'How are you? Are you ready to learn how to play football?' Before, I thought the coach's job was just to set up the team. However, with Guardiola it's something different. He is addicted to football and because of that he is a phenomenon.

My idea is to know every player and to know, also, the personality of the players.

Scouting and player development is the key to year-in and year-out success, not the occasional lucky hit. There are no definitive answers in this game, no shortcuts. When you think you've got it all figured out, you can get humbled very quickly.

When we talk about Arsene Wenger, I like the fact that he focuses 80 percent about the style of play he wants for his team and not taking so much consideration into the other team.

We have to talk about the players we have.

I think what we've tried to preach to our players is we're going to let the best players play.

I don't think football management is easy.

Clubs like Manchester United or Barcelona have a system, and then you hire personnel who fit this system.

I think when a new manager who has a specific way of playing comes to any league, he doesn't think about adapting but rather looks for ways to slowly implement his style so it can be developed for years to come.

When I was coach at Ajax, in the first half of the season, the players needed time to adapt to me, to know who I am as a person and as a coach.

Every manager has his own idea of playing and his own idea of the training, and everyone has a different personality.

I don't really like the business side of football, but I just like adding good players to our football team.

It's part of the beauty of the job in dealing with this is you have to have a plan, and that's why you can't only train 11 players; you train your whole team.