In England, you might have a possession game of six v. six, and it's like headless chickens: people running around everywhere just trying to keep the ball and be strong in tackles. But in Spain, you always stay in your position. You're still in your shape for every drill.
It's not so easy for us when we play teams who have a different mindset, like Chelsea or Inter Milan, because they have the intention of trying to stop us rather than playing a game that is more attractive for the spectators to enjoy.
Rafa Benitez was keen on defending - all dropping back together if you lose the ball.
Even without tactical discipline, what is important for a team is having players with maturity and a sense of responsibility.
A compact defense has always been the basis of Italy's team.
Guardiola has a way of playing; he has a system, and he sticks to that.
In Italy, it is all about tactics and playing for a result, whereas in Spain, the focus is on technique and pace. In England, the game is based on aggression and non-stop action.
If I'm playing higher up the pitch, it's important I don't get carried away and start dropping too deep and I stay in my position.
Italy are a very difficult team to play against. They have good defensive qualities.
For the strikers, we have more freedom, and even when we lose the ball, if we press together, we can get it back, and it is good system for Chelsea.
Arsene always gives freedom to his players. To have that freedom is good, but if you can give them the freedom and respect the tactical aspect of the game, it will be even better.
Against Chelsea, you will have periods in the game when you are right up against it, when they keep the ball. They are pretty solid the way they set their team up.
Van Gaal was always very intensive with his tactics. You had to work more with your head than your legs.
Preparing your tactical formation is essential. Each player needs to know where he has to be, and that is why there needs to be mutual understanding: because you need absolute discipline.
Here in the Premier League, you have to give 100 per cent for the whole 90 minutes. It's not like after 70 minutes you can say, 'We're 2-0 up, so let's have some fun now' - that doesn't happen in the Premier League.
At Ajax, they are strict when it comes to using the ball as a defender.
If you are playing at home to Cyprus you have to be on the front foot. You have to get the crowd onside, get at them, create chances and keep the back door closed so you don't lose any silly goals when you are on top in a game.
Even with the quality of players that we have, they're an extremely hard side to break down and once they get on top of you, you find it difficult to stem the flow of attacks.
Van Gaal has a good vision of football, but it is not mine. He wants to gel winning teams and has a militaristic way of working with his tactics. I want individuals to think for themselves.
Usually, a team of Claudio is really very solid. They usually defend very well, sometimes low, but very well.
In Italy it is far more difficult than in Spain, where teams are not that attentive in defence.
With all due respect, but Juventus are not Real Madrid or the AC Milan of Ronaldinho's days. They can win games 6-2 or 5-2. Juventus are not like that. We have to win 1-0 or 2-0. It's in the club's DNA. That does not mean we will not try to win 3-0, but we are a team that cannot concede a goal when we are ahead.
