Manuel Pellegrini Quotes

Pogba is an incredible player. He has wonderful qualities; he is extremely strong.

Even in training Paul Scholes proves he is one of the best midfielders about, and Michael Carrick as well.

Coutinho is a friend and also a great player. He's got incredible passing ability; he knows how to put attackers in on goal.

There are a lot of great midfielders in the world, with each having their own unique style.

'Seba' Veron was one of the best players I shared a dressing room with. Not only was he technically gifted and could pass the ball accurately over distance, not only could he anticipate where players would run, but he also ran himself.

Dybala's game is easier on the eye, but Pogba is extraordinary because he has physicality and technique.

Neymar will never fail to have technique and creativity.

All players rolled into one: from defensive midfielder to attacking midfielder to attacker. I want to take the qualities from everyone. I'd like to get to the level where I have everything: Vieira, Deschamps, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Henry, Ronaldo. It wouldn't be bad, that.

The best player I ever played with is probably Cesc Fabregas. I only got to play with him for a year before he went back to Barcelona, but I learned so much from him - the way he knew what he was going to do with the ball before he got it and his passing - and he scored goals.

I have great technique, a good shot, and I'm pretty good in the air.

Pogba is a midfielder who has all the qualities. When you are a midfielder you normally have some special qualities but he has everything.

I think a top-class midfielder needs to be able to tackle, get up and down the pitch, pass, create opportunities, and score goals. That's why I try to do everything; that's what I judge my game on.

Cristiano Ronaldo is big and strong, but Messi's technique is pure class.

Everyone says Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, but I would have love to have played with Luka Modric. I think he's an incredible player, really strong mentally and a pure footballer.

Sterling is a player that did very well at Liverpool. He is very fast, too, and he is able to create good chances and is always ready to attack and help the team with his speed.

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.

Ronaldinho takes great free kicks and has scored a lot of nice goals from free play.

I know from playing against Mata that he's a great player.

In international football, you need pace and you need your players up top to create things out of nothing and run at people.

Lionel Messi is a wonderful player. Very skillful. Highly intelligent. He is not good in the air.

I am very fit and by playing sweeper I can control the speed of the game.

Football shape is one thing, and then 'futbol' shape is a completely other thing. It's a whole other level of fitness that you have to work to maintain.

I think Coutinho's a great team player with a huge amount of talent. He can use both feet. He scores goals. He links play well and gets between the lines in attack.

There are many talented midfielders but not the kind of playmaker I am.

Kante is a good player. For me, it is good because he speaks French. We know he is a fantastic player; he runs a lot and works for the team.