To be a contender in the Big Ten a squad must have a solid player at every position.
As far as starting or not starting, that means more to some players than others. And if it means more to someone else, I think you should let them start and just go out there and do your job when it's your turn.
Obviously, I don't want to be a sub, so I will just keep working hard in training. It's not that easy for me as a sub to come on with tempo.
I have had it all over the years, being told I'm not good enough. So whenever the chance comes I always try and prove I should be starting.
Mentally, starting the game versus coming off the bench, there are different vibes.
I don't like sitting on the bench even when it was very rare at Hull to rest during cup games.
It was a big-time change, coming off the bench.
With the Selecao, every substitute is a starter in their club teams, so the competition is always top notch.
It is clear I have enough qualities to be in the starting XI of Liverpool. But when you never get a real chance, it's difficult.
Too many pitchers, that's all, there are just too many pitchers Ten or twelve on a team. Don't see how any of them get enough work. Four starting pitchers and one relief man ought to be enough. Pitch 'em every three days and you'd find they'd get control and good, strong arms.
I would love to start if a coach considered me as a starter.
At City it is very hard to get into that first team.
It's difficult for anyone to regard a place in the England starting line-up as their own. There's always someone looking to get ahead of you, and that's how it should be.
The last two times I went to spring training, I had to win a job, and if I didn't get off to a blazing start, I'm on the bench. Now, I've proven myself, so it's not essential that I get off to a real good start.
It's true that at Malaga, I played every game as a starter, but here at Madrid, they give nothing away.
I'll make changes at receiver before I make a change at the quarterback.
It was hard every time I found out that I was not in the starting XI.
It's just not thinking about starting all the time. You'll think, 'Just because I'm having good games, I need to be in the starting lineup.' Your teammates and coaches respect you even more if you're having good games and you're not worrying about it.
I don't like it if I'm not part of the starting 11.
I'm going to have to work it, compete for that starting spot, compete for that job. I'm willing to come in and work, willing to compete and go at people in practice so I can have that ability to start in the starting lineup.
You don't want a guy to be happy he's not starting.
As a football team, we don't have any backups. We don't consider anybody a backup.
The coach is the one who eventually decides who makes the starting XI.
What I always do is just look at the players, look at the best 11 they can put on the pitch.
I fought all my life to be at Real Madrid, to try to be in the starting XI.
