Player Merit Quotes

I think what we've tried to preach to our players is we're going to let the best players play.

I don't care if you're purple. If you're making a catch or going to go down, you could be silver. I couldn't care less, if you're making those plays for the team. If you're a selfless player, nobody pays attention to that at all. White, black, silver, pink, it doesn't matter to me.

Do you think that a Franck Ribery can always expect to play? No. When he is not on form, he will not play.

When a player deserves to play, with me, he'll play.

It's not about age. If Marcus Rashford is ready for England then he should play.

I look at the records, and you don't win the Cy Young seven times or the MVP without being a good player.

Too many kids today are playing major league ball and don't belong there.

Celtic jerseys are not for second best, they don't shrink to fit inferior players

No one can take their place or their England shirt for granted. If I want to be in that squad, I need to keep banging in the goals to make sure I stay in the manager's plans.

You don't get called up to the national team because you tell good jokes, you are funny, you are handsome or because you are Messi's friend. You are called up because you have a role at your given club and you have personality.

David Luiz has to work with the others if he deserves to play; otherwise, he will stay on the bench or in the stands.

Consistency in selection is great but it's a whole lot easier if you've got players who warrant that consistency through their performances.

If a player fails to perform in four or five consecutive matches, he should be dropped irrespective of whether he is a senior or a junior player.

The ball will tell you who the best players are, not the contracts, not the media.

Steven Gerrard doesn't play because his name is Steven Gerrard. He plays because of what he brings in terms of performances. If that wasn't the case, he wouldn't play. He is as good as he was, and I have learned a lot from him.

For every Scottish player and whoever qualifies to play for Scotland, it's important to put in the performances and, when a squad is coming up, to stay on your toes and prove you deserve to be there.

You have to give the Ballon d'Or to the best player in the world at that time. Any differences between what the players are like as individuals should not affect who is chosen for a personal award.

The best players must play - it does not matter whether they are old or young.

I am sure it will be mentioned and debated but from my standpoint I know who is in the Hall of Fame. A lot of them don't belong in the Hall of Fame. If someone wants to debate me, check the stats.

If you're equally good as this Latin player, guess who's going to get sent home? I know a lot of players that are home now can outplay a lot of these guys.