Raheem Sterling Quotes

Playing at fullback it's part of your role to get up and take those high balls.

Centre-backs usually get criticised for clearing the ball long, but it's easier doing this than risking a pass. If you lose the ball at the back, it's almost a goal. Most centre-backs don't risk this kind of game, depending on the holding midfielder in front.

Look at the best dribblers in the world, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, and the ball seems to stick to their foot, so I can work on that when I am dribbling.

At Ajax, they are strict when it comes to using the ball as a defender.

I can keep the ball and pass it, and I've always felt comfortable with the ball at my feet.

I experienced that the ball is the most important thing. When you have the ball, the other team really can't do anything.

We know it's impossible sometimes to have good defending against Cristiano Ronaldo but we want to keep the ball, with good possession, as then he can do nothing in attack.

Keeping up your concentration is one of the hardest tasks when you're a centre-back because a team like Bayern tend to dominate and can give you sense of false security.

I try to get early contact and keep it on the ground. I like to keep the ball down as much as I can.

Rushing the ball is all about ball control. If you run the ball, you control the clock. If you control the clock, you usually control the game.

When I don't have control of the ball, what do I do? I press to get it back. It's a way of defending. But more important is that I like to have the ball. That's why I believe in individual coaching sessions to prepare players properly.

When I don't have control of the ball, what do I do? I press to get it back. It's a way of defending.

In football, you don't hold on to the ball just to hold on to the ball. When you have it you need to be dangerous, create opportunities and score goals. And when you don't, you make sure the opposition doesn't.

When you touch the ball 400 times per game, it's normal that you can lose the ball a couple of times.

I'm a coach who likes to have the ball, but what I really think is, 'How can you be in charge of the game?' I think, but maybe I am the only one, that the defensive process can take care of the game. Why is that? Because teams wait to defend. If you create something where you go to defend, to steal the ball where you want, it's different.

I want the ball for 90 minutes. When I don't have the ball, I go high pressing because I want the ball.

When we lose the ball, I don't want to win it back directly. I act smarter now, have better anticipation, and also start earlier when somebody tries to lob the ball over me.

At Tottenham, I'm asked to take a lot of risks to keep maximum possession of the ball and build from the back.

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.

Personally, I always try to focus on the little things in my game. As a defender and attacking outside back, I continuously work on completing passes, not being too predictable going forward into the attack, good services into the box, good positioning and footwork.

I like to control the ball and analyse the game.

I'm one of those players who loves to dribble the ball, to run at people.

I like to be in contact with the ball, have possession, to play.

We have to cut out some of our mistakes, but the main thing in English football is controlling the second ball. Without that, you cannot survive.

That's something you want to preach throughout the whole defense - getting the ball back to the offense.