Top 100 Quotes & Sayings by Raul

My departure from Madrid was my own choice. I had one year left on my contract, but I decided to go for a new professional experience, so I joined Schalke. I have no problem with the club and our rapport is good.

So once the game begins, it doesn't matter if it's 10, 20 or 80 thousand fans. The objective is to win the match, and that's where my focus is.

I'm not going to lie: not playing football will be very difficult for me.

I know a lot of marathon runners who are at their best when they are close to 40. You say to yourself, 'It's 42 kilometres and they are 37 or 38 years old,' but the body can. What you have to make sure you don't lose is your head. That is the most important thing.

I have five children of my own, so as a father I understand how important it is to help children in any way you can.

I think Cristiano and Lionel Messi are two of the best players in the history of the game. Are they better than Pele or Diego Maradona? They are at the top, but I think it is difficult in football to say who is first or second or third.

From the time when I started out, the best players around then were Roberto Baggio and Ryan Giggs.

Playing on turf sometimes, not grass, makes it a little bit more difficult.

I believe it's important to have a sporting director - someone to facilitate the communication between the club and the squad, and work on its planning. But not just at Madrid, at all teams.

What brought me here was a desire to keep playing and the exciting project the Cosmos proposed to me. As well as being able to play, which is my passion and what I like doing, they also gave me the chance to help develop a youth academy, where I can bring my experience and knowledge to bear.

It's important to get match rhythm.

I've always wanted to live in America with my family and learn more about its culture.

Look, every club needs stability.

Real Madrid is a very big club and bad results generate controversy.

I like to work in a team. And for that you must have a structure that covers everything and that there is fluid communication.

I set the record at Real Madrid in the Champions League, but Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world.

The demands at Real Madrid are huge. The expectations are enormous. Sometimes, it is good. When you're winning, it's an amazing place and the fans are happy.

I hope things go well with Zidane, the same as I would have said about Benitez. Because what we all want is for Real Madrid to win trophies.

Football has been my life and Real Madrid my home and together we have lived unique moments.

The things you learn when you're young you don't forget.

In the Bundesliga you don't have much time with your family.

I was as excited when Beckham started to play with us as I am with the arrival of Cristiano.

I was close to joining Seattle Sounders when I left Schalke in 2012, but we decided to go to Qatar first.

Being a Real Madrid player is the greatest dream you can imagine.

When I go five games without a goal, there's always a debate. Everything else that I do on the pitch is never valued.

I believe that patience is fundamental in football. It is difficult as sometimes patience is not there. You must have a clear idea and a path you want to take.

Schalke will always be a part of my life.

The European leagues and teams are more competitive, very technical. It was good to work in Qatar - a good experience for me for the future. In the U.S.A., the teams and the players are improving every season.

It's a city that we have always liked. Who doesn't like New York? When you are here you do feel a bit more anonymous. Obviously, you still find people who recognize you, but it's nice to be able to go out and walk around and have it be a normal experience.

Pogba is a player that Madrid would love to have - as would any team.

The intensity and speed of the ball on turf are very different.

Everyone throughout the soccer world knows the Cosmos name and the legacy of the players that played for this team previously. They helped establish soccer in America and I'm honored to follow in their footsteps.

This is Real Madrid. You have to win titles every year. And if you don't? Oof, it's complicated.

It was only a matter of time until my records fell.

You need to take care of yourself, have a good diet, rest sufficiently and have a lot of enthusiasm.

What Cristiano has been doing is huge, but Madrid have a great team with players who can still offer more. The important things is that they keep working as a unit.

Messi has a unique talent, he plays alongside quality players like Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Cristiano is also a great player.

I think that the message Zidane has to offer will get through to the players, because he was a world-class player.

You must believe in the players, their quality, and send the message that working together it was easy to win the Champions League and difficult for anyone to beat you.

I'm fully aware that Qatar are striving to become one of the leading sporting nations and they have big plans for football. Winning the honour of hosting the 2022 World Cup is the best possible proof of their intentions.

I love to play, but to coach is very different.

I have been happy at Real Madrid and I will always be willing to help the club in whatever it needs.

It is not easy to change from player to coach.

Every season is very difficult.

I love playing games, but also training.

I have always been there to help the team, sometimes coming off the bench, other times as a starter.

The key is to be the best-prepared possible and that is my commitment to the club.

My first choice will always be Real Madrid, but working at a global level for La Liga can't possibly offend anyone.

I believe that soccer in the United States lacks an idol and they should do everything possible to create one.

All kids have the dream of becoming a professional soccer player, but to become that you need so many things. You have to have talent, be hard working, have support, have discipline. You also have to have ability, physical and technical, and understand the game.

When I was a player I always said I would only play for Madrid.

Never mind a year, if you don't win one game, it can become a complicated week! Yes, that's life at Real Madrid.

I was lucky enough to play with Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, Cristiano... but Messi is different; he makes everything look so easy, so effortless - even the impossible.

I'm happy with, and proud of, everything I've achieved - of each game and each goal that helped the teams I played for.

Harry Kane is a typical striker. He scores in every single game. I think he has great qualities. I like him a lot.

Punctuality and showing respect in the workplace are the foundations of success. Success is meaningless without them. I'm always looking to pass these lessons on to younger players, because they are the secret of excelling and developing your game.

I think it's important to work with children and teach them the right way to train and play at a young age.

I think Ancelotti is a great coach who has a great relationship with the players, but is also very demanding of them.

My time in New York has been amazing.

It is necessary that the coach has things as he wants.