Gonzalo Higuain Quotes

There are a lot of teams that don't want to play, that only want to defend against Barcelona, and that makes it difficult. We're always looking for the open space. A lot of times we'll face six defenders and four midfielders.

It's not so easy for us when we play teams who have a different mindset, like Chelsea or Inter Milan, because they have the intention of trying to stop us rather than playing a game that is more attractive for the spectators to enjoy.

In England and Germany, perhaps, there is more of a focus on the physical side of the game, in breaking down the opposition's play, especially against the lower placed sides.

In Spain, you get seven clear chances a game to receive the ball and shoot. In Italy, you get very few clear balls, and you have to fight everyone to score; that makes you improve and develop.

Tactically, Italians are very strong. They are a lot into tactics: how to defend, when you lose the ball, where will you be?

It is very difficult to score goals in Italy.

I think we've got a lot players in the squad who are more suited to European football at the moment.

I don't really like all these tactical systems people talk about: 3-5-2, 4-3-3, and all that.

If you're talking about English football very few teams play 4-4-2 now: it's either 4-4-1-1, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, they are the three major systems played throughout the Premier League.

I don't want Kylian to play like Neymar and keep the ball. Kylian is incredibly dangerous in the final move, and I want him to stay that way.

In Serie A if you have an exceptional physique and you train very well you can destroy any opposing defense.

It's always tough to play against teams that bunker or 'park the bus' inside the 18-yard box, but we always try to focus on our game and how we can overcome the obstacles that the game presents to continue to get better and score goals.

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.

At Tottenham, we are just bombing on as wing-backs, but sometimes on the international stage, where there is so much quality, you need to be more careful about the distance between yourself and the right-sided centre-half.

When I've watched teams that play with five at the back and wing-backs, I've looked at their starting positions and positions out of possession because that comes a little bit more unnaturally to me.

My perfect formation would be 4-3-3 with one holding and then the two going forward. I would be one of the ones going forward.

I coach defending an awful lot but I don't think too many teams in the Premier League or in the world of football actually coach defending anymore, certainly not the full-backs.

Italy do not only defend; they can attack, too. They have attacking qualities, and they create chances.

With Luis Enrique, I never expected he would become a coach. He was an intuition player; he didn't speak with me about tactics.

With a line of six in the defence and then three in front of that, it's not always easy to find the spaces to score the goals.

When there's pressure on the ball, you can go man-to-man on your striker; you've got the advantage because the ball pressure means it'll be a difficult pass to play.

Luis Enrique has a clear idea, and the team has understood it perfectly. He asks us to press high up the pitch, to counter quickly when the opposition attacks and try to maximise the space between the lines with the speed we have.

Most teams - whether they like it or not against Manchester City - you're going to find yourself quite often penned in your own half.

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

Getafe is an uncomfortable rival for Barca and for anyone. They are experts in winning second balls.