When I spoke to Everton, the plan, the project, the history of the club was interesting. If I didn't see ambition in Everton I wouldn't come to Everton and that's maybe a good message to all of the players.
— Ronald Koeman
When my two boys were growing up and asking me about what I did and what kind of player I was I showed them all the matches from the European Championships in 1988 when we beat Germany in the semi-final and won the final against Russia.
I think we have very good facilities for the youth in Holland. We have very good youth coaches and I think that is some of the reasons that always Holland has very good football players.
I think it's normal that you will lose players if you don't play every season in the Champions League, because that's the intention for every player to be part of that.
When you build the house, you don't start with the roof.
I'm in love with Barcelona, life there is fantastic. It was my best period playing.
Everyone knows I have a relationship with Barcelona.
What I don't like is talk about rumours.
I had a good contract at Southampton, the managers in the Premier League are very well paid, but in football you need ambition.
If you don't have that ambition you start to be sloppy and that is not what I like to be.
I like young players when they are still open to learn and behave normally, not driving a Porsche after three matches in the first team.
We all like being part of the Premier League. There is a lot of attention and we enjoy that but football is always the same. If you win, you have friends. If you don't win, you are looking for friends. That's the game.
His potential is greater and higher than Everton as a final destination. If Romelu was to play at Everton until the end of his career I know he has left something behind.
It is all about the talents of the young players. If they have the talent you have to give an opportunity. If they don't have the talent then, OK, you have to look elsewhere.
I know myself that I am a manager who really gives young players a chance when they deserve it.
We know it's impossible sometimes to have good defending against Cristiano Ronaldo but we want to keep the ball, with good possession, as then he can do nothing in attack.
I'm always a big advocate for adapting to your new team, your new country and your new team-mates.
I respect and admire the Premier League.
I sort of collect watches.
If you have a lot of injuries for a long period, that makes it more normal to bring in new players.
It's an easy answer, as a manager, to say: 'I need time.'
That's the difference between outside and playing in the Premier League.
You cannot plan what is going to happen. You cannot plan your life.
If players know their role it is easier to keep to them.
It is not always possible, but the best plan is always to keep hold of your best players.
I was not happy when we lost Morgan Schneiderlin, Nat Clyne and other players of that quality at Southampton.
From what I saw in Spain and Germany most of the teams drop back and then they have all of the time to build up and have the movements. In the Premier League it is more physical and about set plays. It is more difficult.
It is always difficult when there is a lack of confidence and a lack of belief but it can be good for me to see the reaction of the team in a difficult time.
I don't have any problems with criticism.
What I like is to bring the best team for the fans, and if we have that then we need to perform and we need success, but that is what I like and what I have had all my life in football.
I see differences in how I like to work with young players and how I like to give young players a chance maybe more than English managers.
I don't read the comments of fans, no.
It's not only Van Dijk who can stop Ronaldo. But Ronaldo is good enough to create against really good defenders.
Who does not want to coach Barcelona?
In football, as in life, as in business, everything can be talked about and discussed.
When I was a player it was not normal that I would cook at home but now that I have more time, I do sometimes. I like it, I like to cook and maybe sometime I would like to have some lessons.
I like my life and I like to be positive.
It's all about the qualities of the players. The better the players, the easier it is for the manager.
It's always important with a young one in your team that he needs to be comfortable in the position he plays.
In life everything is possible. In football everything is possible.
I still believe in 'how you train, how you play.'
A new project can offer you a new challenge.
If you are a happy man then you can give your best.
You can have Guardiola as a manager, you can have Koeman as a manager, anybody as a manager, but the players inside the white lines win the game.
It is not so easy to turn yourself into one of the big clubs in the Premier League and also the Champions League.
If you have expectations as a club, then coping with criticism is part of your job.
I was always most of the time working in clubs as player and coach to win titles.
I know English football people say you have to look out for young players, that maybe they can play 15 or 20 games but not more. They are afraid. I am not afraid to put young players in. I am not afraid but maybe they are.
I want a quiet life.
We have to respect the opponents but we also have to believe in ourselves.
