Jose Mourinho Quotes

The best way to stop Messi is when you play with 11 men and then you can double mark him, one player to stay on him and the other to help out. If it is 11 against 10 then you have almost no chance of stopping him.

How do you mark Ronaldo? You try not to leave him alone and don't let him shoot on his right foot. As for Messi... you just make the sign of the cross!

I've always stuck my arms behind my back anyway when trying to block a shot in the penalty area.

Rafa Benitez was keen on defending - all dropping back together if you lose the ball.

Never tackle, never go down, we've heard it over and over again. You have to try to keep Messi away from the goal and block him with multiple players while being as close to him as possible. He is too quick, too fast, too intense with the ball.

The best place to defend is in the opposition penalty box.

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.

Defending isn't just about tackling and heading, it's also about getting the ball down and playing - starting the attack from the back.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

I'm always in the 'butcher' role. But the only way to stop Messi one-on-one is to foul him. Otherwise, if I'm alone, I'll only get the ball one in 20 times. I have to use other weapons, I know the best way to stop him. I know he does not like playing with his back to goal, you must be right on top of him when he gets the ball.

Everyone thinks I'm looking for attacking football all the time. But the foundation is how you defend - keep a clean sheet, and you have a decent chance to win a game of football.

The last thing you want as a striker is the opposing team putting all 10 players behind the ball.

I've become accustomed to playing against four defenders throughout my career, but in Italy, I have to play against five.

In football, there has always been this idea of having a left-footer and a right-footer in central defence.

My view is that you show Messi one side or the other, and if he goes past you, he goes past you. But if he slips it through your legs, then you have to obstruct him and take the foul. Just don't ever let yourself be nutmegged.

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.

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.

Tackling and playing well in space against any spread offense is very important.

Everyone plays the ball over the top and, at the moment, we only concede goals from crosses or balls over the top. I feel we will adapt to that.