Top 107 Quotes & Sayings by Xabi Alonso

How many times have you seen me run into the box with the ball, dribbling past players? It's uncommon because it's not my game; it's not my thing.

Guardiola has a lot of knowledge about the game and understands the psychology of the players. You can see all the things he is doing well.

I prefer not to compare teams because it's not fair at all.

I'm very satisfied to close my time as footballer.

I have played at Liverpool, a special club, grown as a player and won titles.

If you have control of the midfield, you have control of the game, and you have more chances to win.

Kroos is an excellent player.

Bayern is a big club and a big brand, but on a daily basis, it's a family club. You get to know the physios, the kit man, the chefs. It's also a club that's very close to the supporters. That proximity to the fans makes it special. That was surprising. In Liverpool and Madrid, there's more distance.

Losing is a part of this sport.

I feel good; my family and I feel comfortable in Munich.

I will always be grateful to Liverpool. It is a very special club.

Leaving Liverpool was the toughest decision I had to make in football because I was in an exemplary club, a proper football club, with a lovely and sharing stadium that meant a lot of things to me. The fans are the best in the world, no doubt about that, and I was comfortable there.

Madrid is a big city. It's very dynamic and cosmopolitan.

My idea was to stay in Madrid. Then, when I heard of Munich's interest, I said, 'Xabi, think what you want and where you will be happy.'

Anoeta is always a tough place to go: people get right behind their side.

I used to enjoy watching Ronald Koeman, even though he didn't play in my position. I loved the way he hit the ball, the talent he had to position himself.

I hardly ever get in the box.

I want to win the Champions League with Bayern.

Cristiano's numbers are amazing, indisputable.

At Liverpool, I used to read the match day programme, and you'd read an interview with a lad from the youth team. They'd ask age, heroes, strong points, etc. He'd reply, 'Shooting and tackling.' I can't get into my head that football development would educate tackling as a quality, something to learn, to teach, a characteristic of your play.

I have been lucky enough to work with great coaches. My father was also a coach, and my position in central midfield requires tactical knowledge.

I'm incredibly proud and happy to play for FC Bayern and to be a part of this family.

You need to have the same ideas to work as a team, to have a good team spirit. And you don't get there in a day or even a month. It takes some time to get there.

When the results are good, everything seems prettier; when things go bad, it seems like all conflicts, personal disputes, and problems arise.

I accept I am going to miss playing because it's such an important part in my life. It's going to be difficult to fill that gap. Life goes on.

So many times, football is really unfair.

I have learned from all of my coaches, and I am sure I will learn a lot with Guardiola.

People in Liverpool are very welcoming.

The midfielders are important: they have to offer themselves to receive the ball and make good use of it, take choices, try not to lose the ball and defend. But I don't feel like a leader at all.

Of course Zidane has surprised me as a coach. I didn't know how he would do.

Everything can change in the Champions League.

Anything can happen in football.

In England, those qualities of playing it simple, being in the right position, reading the game, knowing the right moment to make things happen around you are not appreciated. Making a tackle, a run into the box - the spectacular things are more appreciated.

Real Madrid is a big club, and like at any other big club, too, there are always critics after defeats.

Mesut is one of those unique players you see every once in a while. He has the gift of a perfect touch in tight spaces that makes him special.

There were many good reasons to move to Bayern, and Pep Guardiola was definitely one of them.

I think Kimmich is a bit like Mascherano. They are similar type of players.

While I was at Madrid, for me, Cristiano was the best.

It's hard to imagine being an ex-player. It's not easy to find a new passion.

Cristiano has unique qualities, brings danger in one-on-one situations, and has the ability to score and find something different.

There have been many games where Xavi and I have played together, and I think we work well.

I wanted to end my career still at the highest level, and Bayern is the highest level.

With Senna, I am not incompatible; I am not incompatible with anyone.

I don't try to do things that might make me look stupid, because the risk is there.

I don't think tackling is a quality. It is a recurso, something you have to resort to, not a characteristic of your game.

Of course it's better to have good players to build a better team. But to build a team, you need to have time.

Football is a lot to do with mental state.

Sometimes that kind of last-ditch tackle can get the crowd excited, and you get a push from that. It's important to play with that psychological side of the game, but it depends on the quality of the player.

I feel very comfortable with the system used by Mourinho. It's a very dynamic 4-2-3-1 that can easily change to 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 depending on the moment or the team's needs. He really knows what he wants.

I've been lucky, but I have earned that luck.

I have improved with time by playing for elite teams in elite leagues and the Champions League and with the Spanish national team in World Cups and European Championships.

Each time I watch a Liverpool game, I feel something special, especially whenever it's at Anfield, because it brings back great memories.

I remember playing with my dad, and my kids will remember this as well.

Ronaldo can create and score goals.

I have been progressing throughout my career, which is a very good sign.

You have to know your role and accept it, because that's what is best for the team.

I've still got Paul Scholes' shirt at home, which I swapped with him once. When I was at Liverpool, he was one of the players I liked most.

I came from my hometown team, Real Sociedad, to the best team in England, to the best team in Spain, to the best team in Germany.

When I was a Real Sociedad player, we lost on every occasion we visited Camp Nou. Maybe that is normal for a small team, but with Liverpool and Real Madrid, you expect more.

If I have to yell at Cristiano Ronaldo, I yell.