Maurizio Sarri Quotes

I think I work harder on the pitch, I cover more ground and my passing is more accurate.

Before I came to Barcelona, I only thought about one facet of the game: destroying. My qualities were completely defensive, and I wouldn't take responsibility for organising my team's game, our attacks.

The way children are taught football doesn't encourage skill; the focus is on other areas.

Spalletti made a difference for me. He gives great importance to the details and, at minimum, wants the goalkeeper to know how to play with the ball at his feet.

I'm not someone who can do 10 stepovers or backheels - I'm not very interested in that. I'm more fascinated by the simplicity of play because the thing that makes this sport so beautiful.

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

If Lukaku is not as good as others with his first touch, then give him a ball that he can handle.

I like to control the ball and analyse the game.

For me, David Silva is a fantastic player because his technique is incredible, and he understands when the right time to pass the ball is.

I'd say my main quality is keeping the ball and my passing.

What features in a midfielder am I after? Players who have the mindset to win every game - then we can start to talk about the technical quality.

I would love to play alongside Wayne Rooney. He does the running of two or three players and makes a lot of space. We would be the perfect combination.

A lot of people, when a guy scores a lot of goals, think, 'He's a great player', because a goal is very important, but a great player is a player who can do everything on the field. He can do assists, encourage his colleagues, give them confidence to go forward. It is someone who, when a team does not do well, becomes one of the leaders.

A coach once told me there are four factors that determine a players' performance: his tactical awareness, his physical condition, his technical ability and his mental strength.

Pedro has special qualities. He adds a lot, dribbling, scoring, keeping the pitch wide. He's always ready to compete.

Padoin is proving himself to be a great professional. He's tactically intelligent, and it's tough to play in front of the defense.

Sometimes in midfield, it's nice because you do get a little bit more of the ball, and maybe out wide you rely on people to get you the ball.

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.

For me, playing simply is dribbling. For me, playing one or two touches is harder. Playing simply is the most difficult thing.

I like the Klopp mentality but at the same time, I like the Pep culture about football because always we need intensity with and without the ball.

In every country, you play a different style of football. Sometimes if it's really tactical, like it is in Spain, it seems like it slows down the tempo, but it's not really the case.

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

I know people say you have to be big and strong to play in the Premier League, but you cannot just judge a player by their size. You have to look at their other qualities, too.

I think my game isn't very flashy, but the test of time for the position of quarterback is how fast can you get the ball out of your hands to the right guy? And I think I do that better than everyone else.