Chris Smalling Quotes

I learned how to defend the ball with my body and to be faster than my opponents.

Any good attacker will always beat a defender who's face-marking you.

Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso was always bemused by our enthusiasm for tackling, because he saw it as the last resort.

To be useful in defence, to win back the ball, you don't always have to go sliding into the tackle. It's also about your positioning; sometimes all you have to do is take a step back.

When a defender comes up to tackle me, I want him to feel that ground.

Small players learn to be intuitive, to anticipate, to protect the ball. A guy who weighs 90 kilos doesn't move like one who weighs 60. In the playground I always played against much bigger kids and I always wanted the ball. Without it, I feel lost.

If I'm going to get hit, why let the guy who's going to hit me get the easiest and best shot? I explode into the guy who's trying to tackle me.

You have to be physical. If you are not, defensive backs will try to pick on you.

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.

I think guys that play basketball really understand how to go up and get a ball. Because in a rebound situation, you've got to go up and fight for a ball. Just boxing out. There are a lot of things that transfer.

Every time I catch the ball, I'm seeing a lot of bodies. The key for me is not to force.

When I get the ball with my back to goal, I like to be in touching contact. I need to feel the guy. He will try to take the ball, and I will go past him.

Tackling still comes down to leverage and owning that leverage and making your hits.

I've just got to be a little bit cautious with my technique and all that sort of stuff, going into tackles. But I'm not going to change the way that I go into it. I'm going to be aggressive.

I like to get the ball down and play, but I can always get stuck in and hold my own.

I'd say I'm a front foot defender; I never hesitate to go in for a challenge. You have to get one over your opponent and dominate them.

I believe the most important thing for the defender is to take the ball away from the opposing team, no matter what, and not to allow any space or give any occasions for opponents to score goals.

I love the physicality of an offensive lineman.

You know what to expect when you play Championship sides. They're very solid defensively, they're not scared to put their foot or head in, and they defend very well.

I want to be known as a guy who breaks tackles; that's the whole objective of the game.

Football is about tackling, about winning the ball.

Tackling is my favorite part of the game.

I've always coached energy, hustling, rushing to the pile, and if it is wiggling, you do hit it because guys are fighting for yardage, and sometimes, you've got to give up the ball because of one inch.

It's very physical in the midfield, but I've come into my own now, and I can handle it in there.

When the ball is up in the air for a rebound you always have to be on your toes to go up for the ball. It's the same situation in football as a receiver; I'm always trying to get the ball at the highest point like a rebound.