Build-Up Play Quotes

With Bayern, we want a lot of ball possession and to control the play, so I operate sometimes like the 11th outfield player. Thus I am included a lot into the build-up play and have a lot of touches of the ball.

At Tottenham, I'm asked to take a lot of risks to keep maximum possession of the ball and build from the back.

Firmino is a player who is really good at adapting to different positions. He is a No. 9, but he helps a lot in build-up play.

The strikers are the first defenders. And the first defender is the first striker to build from the back.

Pochettino likes to play from the back, with the buildup, have the ball.

We've always had a philosophy at Spurs to play out from the back, to play with style, to play out from the back and that's the way I've always been brought up and to come into the first team is no different.

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

I've never been one to go past 20 players on the wing. I'm always going to be the guy sneaking the ball through, to build and create something.

Playing further up the pitch, you have more opportunities to score and provide assists, and it's something I liked right from the start.

To me, attacking football happens when Makelele gets the ball and passes it to the central defender who passes it to the right-back who comes forward and judges the situation. If he can do something he passes forward or runs with the ball, if not he gives it back to Makelele who builds the attack again. That is attacking football. In England attacking football is giving the ball to Makelele and having him hit it forward no matter what, even if everybody is marked.