Johan Cruijff

“When you play a match, it is statistically proven that players actually have the ball 3 minutes on average. So, the most important thing is: what do you do during those 87 minutes when you do not have the ball? That is what determines whether you’re a good player or not.”

“There is only one ball, so you need to have it.”

“In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker, and the striker the first defender.”

“Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running before the others, I appear faster.”

“Why couldn't you beat a richer club? I've never seen a bag of money score a goal.”

“You have to shoot, otherwise you can't score.”

“Italians can't win against you, but you can lose against them.”

“Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.”

“Quality without results is pointless. Results without quality is boring.”

“Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate.”

“Every disadvantage has its advantage.”

“Football is a game of mistakes. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins.”

“I’m not religious. In Spain all 22 players make the sign of the cross before they go on the pitch. If it worked, every game would be a tie.”

“To win you have to score one more goal than your opponent.”

“If I wanted you to understand it, I would have explained it better.”

“Players that aren't true leaders but try to be, always bash other players after a mistake. True leaders on the pitch already assume others will make mistakes.”

“If you have the ball, you must make the field as big as possible. If you don't have the ball, you must make it as small as possible.”

“Before I make a mistake, I don't make that mistake.”