Ball Recovery Quotes

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.

When teams train now, it is about what they do with the ball and, if they lose it, how quickly they press to win it back.

If you look at Barcelona and the way they press high, or Bayern Munich, the way they press high... that's what makes them the best teams, because when they lose the ball, in the first three seconds, that's when they get the ball back, really, really high.

There is so much interaction in a football match: between you and your team-mates and how you support each other, work for each other, make runs. But I also enjoy the other aspect: the pressing and how people work so hard to recover the ball.

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.

I think I have that ability to win the ball back quickly when we lose it.

Anyone who has played the game professionally, you're always taught that the ball is the most important, most precious thing, so when the ball hits the ground, it's always a mad scramble. It's amazing how many times there is a fumble, and the person who recovers it initially doesn't walk away with the ball.

It is vital to maintain possession and to win it back as soon as possible, because if we win it high up, then the opposition has to run 70 metres.

What I want is to recover the ball as near to the other box as we can, and when we have the ball, play.

I like winning the ball back. It's something I love.

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.

When you are a striker, you need to give a lot of effort for the team, to keep the opponent under pressure, to press them, to win the ball fast - that's what I try to do to help the team. After that, I try to make some goals.

To be honest, it was only when I was first in the French Ligue 1 that my manager and other people started to say, 'Okay, N'Golo recovers a lot of balls.' Before that, I didn't consider it to be my job in the team.

I try to play my game; I try my best to recover the ball quickly: that's my job.

I always like the players to be within 10 to 15 metres of each other. When the attacking players try what I am asking them to do, and it breaks down, there are players close enough to then go and win the ball back and counter press the game.

I have heard what has been said, but most of the time, I recover the ball without making a foul.

Statistically, the chance of creating a goal is higher within 10 seconds of winning the ball.

When we lose the ball, we look to win it back as soon as possible. But you can't do it alone; you have to do it all together.

When we have to defend, I just try to recover the ball for the team because it's important, but I always try to go forward when we have the ball.