The level of English teams is high.
— Frank Rijkaard
I was once in charge of the Dutch team - and then I was introduced to club football!
Africa has produced some good players.
I had a lot of success, of course, but whatever was achieved was due to a group effort on the part of all the players.
Everyone has his own form, and I never had any problems with Mourinho.
A team like Barcelona always has targets, and that's quite normal.
Dennis is something special. We are talking a lot about exciting football, and Dennis Bergkamp, I think, started with attractive football a long time ago. He was one of these players. A lot of the things he did as a football player you can compare to art.
All the big clubs set their goals. We have to do that because it is necessary to explain to the fans. But this does not mean I am thinking only of the final results. The work you are doing every day with the team is often more important.
I can work with a lot of different mentalities.
It's not for nothing that they say it's easier to get to the top than to stay at the top.
Ronaldinho is very happy at Barcelona.
No person is the same, and so you can't treat each player identically.
When you are a coach, you are watching how the team is positioning itself on the field - if your team is in possession of the ball, you are already anticipating what could happen if you lose the ball.
I have no desire to be 60 years old and standing on the side of the pitch.
If you want to come out of a sad moment, you have to work really hard.
Players are sometimes sad, sometimes happy during their sporting career.
Losing against rivals is always a blow to the morale.
It is very tough to beat an English team. The type of football they play is only in the Premier League. They defend as though their lives depend on it. And they are very successful.
At Barcelona, I was exposed to talent. You had Ronaldinho, who was a marvel to watch. Deco is skilful and talented. Then there are players like Xavi, a good and hardworking man who gave his all. Iniesta is another. Then the name of Messi will come up in that list.
Success is built on organisation, determination, and experience, not to mention following the regulations, so of course it's no easy matter.
Short-termism is no good: plans must be carried through to the end.
Mourinho is a great coach, and I respect the way he works.
I think that every manager who starts work with a team has the best expectations and is giving all he's got to improve immediately.
You have to score one goal more than your opponents. That's the most important thing.
You see a lot of managers who are working and yet are already talking about other countries and other teams. But that's not for me.
It's normal that if you are working with a lot of people, then you have a lot of different mentalities and characters. You have the serious guy, and you have the one who is always complaining and the one who is always talking. Everyone is different.
Pavarotti is not judged on how he sings in the shower. People wait until he gets on stage.
I'm not a guy who believes in revenge.
The evolution of football has seen a reduction in the space between the teams. It is therefore important for the modern footballer to react and be quicker than in the past, because there is more happening in the restricted space.
As a player, you are more concerned with the moments when you have possession of the ball or are about to receive the ball. You are watching your team-mates and trying to decide what the possibilities are.
He was always brilliant, but when Pep Guardiola started to use him as a 'false' No. 9, he got even better. It's impossible to be more of a footballer than Messi.
He's an incredible person. Messi is not simply a uniquely talented footballer. He's also strong mentally, very bright, and exceptionally dedicated to his job. Personally speaking, I enjoy watching him play, and I'm deeply proud of him and what he has achieved. Quite simply, he's the best.
It would not be honest if I did a review, because I've worked with Leo Messi, whom I consider the best player I've seen. I cannot comment or compare with Cristiano Ronaldo because I have not worked with him. That is not to say that I do not have as much respect for Cristiano as a footballer.
We win together, and we lose together.
Generally speaking, I think that Frank Lampard is one of the best players in international football.
Ronaldinho is another special player, probably amongst the most talented players I have worked with. At Barcelona, he was outstanding.
It's my belief that Barcelona are successful because they have a number of youth teams alongside the first team. They are where it begins.
Mourinho follows his personality - staying close to his own way - he chooses that, and he has been very successful with it. I can only have respect for that.
Before we talk about stylish performance, we need to think about winning. That's the most important thing.
If someone is quite tall, the people will sing songs about his height. We don't have to overreact. You just have to do your job.
The national team means you have the nation behind it.
Every manager feels a responsibility to his board of directors and the public and the players.
Manchester United is a world-famous club, and yet if you say, 'Manchester United,' then immediately you think of Sir Alex Ferguson. To have achieved so much and have so much importance at such a big club is extremely rare.
It is always a shame when players are injured.
Being a manager is kneading people.
I understand very well that if you are a national coach, you want to use all the opportunities that you have to meet up with your team.
I'm grateful for everything I have achieved in football, but now I'd rather do other things, go and watch games and enjoy discussing them afterwards.
From the moment Messi was introduced, we all knew he was a unique talent. I remember Deco and Ronaldinho immediately realised how special he was, and they took him under their wing.
Most of the clubs who have had success against Barcelona have relied on a highly organised and disciplined defence.
When a parent has two children, it is difficult to pick one favourite.
