Rafael Benitez Quotes

United are capable of setting up a low block and making it difficult, but they're also capable of coming out and pressing high.

Some big teams prefer to be very strong defensively and have two, three, four counter-attacking players.

It's not so easy for us when we play teams who have a different mindset, like Chelsea or Inter Milan, because they have the intention of trying to stop us rather than playing a game that is more attractive for the spectators to enjoy.

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.

I don't want just pure roll out of the back four. I want productive mixed play... how many ways can you affect a game?

It's a different playing style than at Monaco; there were two of us in midfield there, and here at Liverpool, there's three.

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.

I don't say we are a defensive team. I say we are a strong team in defensive terms, but at the same time lacking sufficient fluidity in attack because that will take time to come.

I think we've got a lot players in the squad who are more suited to European football at the moment.

I would prefer to play for and against an attacking team, but I am now used to playing against defensive teams.

It's not easy to create chances or a game when you're just receiving long balls.

You can't play man to man against Liverpool and out-pass them. You have to keep your shape and stop them.

When you play the top sides you cannot afford to be as open as 4-4-2 can leave you. Consequently teams adapt their formation.

When you are playing with a few players in the pocket, it doesn't leave me isolated. I have a bit more space to work and be higher up the pitch.

Maybe Klopp is the best manager in the world at creating teams who attack the back four with so many players, from almost anywhere on the pitch. They have an intensity with the ball and without the ball, and it is not easy to do that.

Having a lot of attacking players on the field and a good balance at the back is the foundation of victory.

I love to see goals and attacking play; I want us to be entertaining. But it's no good if you're shipping goals.

United's history was built on attacking football, which does not always mean that the team kept clean sheets or did not concede chances.

Manchester United are always a team that try to play football, try to play football from the back.

I come from a Napoli team who scored 104 goals. Do you think I'm going to be hyper-defensive with Real Madrid? A team that creates chances and is great in possession is not defensive.

I don't think City play a Brazilian style - it is more Spanish the way we play here.

It is well-documented that Bournemouth like to play football. I think I can give them a slightly different dimension when the ball goes into the box.

I like entertaining football but, at the same time, you can't concede goals. That's a tricky balance to find.

I often felt as a player in a 4-4-2, you end up being outnumbered in midfield and chasing the ball, so as a manager I liked wingbacks to push forward; it gives the midfield player on the ball three or four options.

I like the idea of playing with a bit more tactical freedom, either in a deeper role or supporting the strikers more often.