Patrice Evra Quotes

When we have a defensive situation in which we are conceding too many goals, it is not just a problem in the defense but the entire team, starting with the coach.

The teams that defend well are as important as those that attack well. If you don't concede goals it is much easier to win but it is all about having balance.

The beginning of everything is our defensive organisation. The clean sheet is always the first objective that we have in the game. Always.

If we don't start playing better on defense, it's going to be hard. We can't just sit there and win shootouts.

Now, everybody always says there's no 'I' in team, but there is an 'I' in win, because the individuals make the team what it is, and how they think and what they do is important to the team. So when you act like the individual is not important, well, it is damn important who these people are and what they are.

We believe defending is very much a team job, and we can't just rely on a back four and a goalkeeper.

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

Without a doubt, it is easier to produce a defensive soccer team, because it does not need you to have talent for it but simply to be well organised.

I think it's all machismo - 'Come on, you've got to guard your guy, man. If you can't guard your guy, then you can't play defence.' A lot of it is accountability, where you say, 'Hey, you're matched up with him. Go do your job.' The zone kind of sometimes moves a lot of pieces around.

For me, it is very important to control a situation in defence. You can always score goals, but you have to add stability in the defence.

We cannot take responsibility for every goal we concede, we all need to do our part across the field to ensure we win as a team.

It doesn't matter how well you play individually if the team isn't winning.

I think if you're not conceding so many goals, it gives you a great platform to win games.

Most of the clubs who have had success against Barcelona have relied on a highly organised and disciplined defence.

For me, trying to connect our team together is so important. I know we'll play really well when our team gets really tight. So I want to make sure I connect with the players so that I can help them be at their best.

It's not always the best roster that wins, it's the best team, and sometimes that maybe doesn't jell all that well.

The defensive phase is about the team, so it's about balance.

A compact defense has always been the basis of Italy's team.

It's difficult when you play the best teams in the world. You have to be strong as a team and defend and get clean sheets.

As much as you want to improve or help the team, as a centre-back your job is to go under the radar and keep the ball out of the net. If you do that and let the strikers get all the adulation and the headlines, then you're probably doing your job.

Regardless of how well you can be offensively, if you have a great defense, you can deal with any offense.

You don't just be a team. You become a team. Through tough games you find that you need each other

The glory of sport is witnessing a well-coached team perform as a single unit, striving for a common goal and ultimately bringing distinction to the jersey the players represent.

The secret of the team's success is easy - unity and hard work.

I don't care how talented a team is, unless you believe in one another, you're weak.