Dimitar Berbatov Quotes

I've always looked up to John Terry; he's a massive defender and a rock. His one-v-one defending and reading of the game have really educated me. I watch a lot of clips of him.

I played in England for a year and a half, and I know how English teams play - very well.

Everyone knows where I play, as a defensive midfielder, more or less the same, so in the last six or seven years I play in that position and there is nothing new for me.

I wasn't a natural defender. I was a striker as a kid. I have learned a lot but there is more to learn, of course.

For me, the best defender I played against was Carles Puyol. He was my teammate, too, but my rival many times. Also, Roberto Ayala, the Argentinian centerback.

I like playing deeper, but I'm not Casemiro.

Messi often has a crowd of opponents around him, but with Neymar on the pitch, too, at least two of those opposition players will have to be aware of him.

I have to play with discipline in midfield.

Ideally, you want a defender with Premier League experience.

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.

In Rome, I was already trying to help in shaping the game, but the style was a little bit different to what we do at Liverpool.

I like to play with my back to the goal, but my colleagues have to tell me when I'm alone or how much room I have so I can choose to pass or to go straight for the goal.

It is possible to stop Messi. Teams do it when he plays for Argentina. But the Barcelona Messi is different.

I prefer Liverpool. The way we play is good for all of our players.

Real Madrid, they are the best counter-attacking team in the world.

I'm lucky to have played two different positions. But of course the experience I gained as a full back - knowledge of defending, and taking up the right positions, helps me as a midfielder.

I need to keep improving tactically, defensively and offensively for the last pass, the last shot.

I've played as a striker all my life. To play on the right or the left is always difficult.

Considering Messi's quality and everything he represents, I don't think I've seen him playing with a guy following him around the pitch the entire time with the sole purpose of not letting him play.

I prefer defensive midfielder because I know my job when I play there. More things are in front of you.

At 16, I was a slow right-back and wasn't good enough to play centre-back.

Tactically, I know how to play on one side even though I remain convinced that I can play better through the middle.

At Bayern, I was used to coming out of my box to try and clear up dangerous situations. The World Cup was just another platform, so it gave other people the chance to see me who don't watch German football.

When I played in goal at Stamford Bridge, I realised that's not my best position.

When I was younger, I played as a right-back. I also played as a central defender, but I realised that I could dominate the ball quite calmly, so I started playing further forward in front of the back four.