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

Johan Cruijff

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Johan Cruijff
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More quotes by Johan Cruijff

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You know I don't think there will ever be a time when the English player is not respected, and feared, across the world of football. The English footballer is very brave and strong and committed and there is always enough high-class players in his team to cause concern in any opponent. It is a national characteristic.
Johan Cruijff
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If my forward arrives in a one vs one situation, I always say: 'let him work it out.' Then my players say: But we can help him!'. My reply is: First, there's a good chance you'll only run in his way, and as a second attacker you're drawing a second defender with you, and two vs two is harder than one vs one.'
Johan Cruijff
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The hardest thing about an easy match is making a weak opponent play poor. A poor player isn't poor because he tends to kick the ball in his own goal. It's because when you put intense pressure on him, he loses control. So you have to increase the tempo of the game and he'll automatically give the ball away.
Johan Cruijff
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He has been outstanding. [Manuel] Neuer is an extraordinary goalkeeper, who would deserve to win it.
Johan Cruijff
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I'm ex-player, ex-technical director, ex-coach, ex-manager, ex-honorary president. A nice list that once again shows that everything comes to an end.
Johan Cruijff
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Players today can only shoot with their laces. I could shoot with the inside, laces, and outside of both feet. In other words, I was six times better than today's players.
Johan Cruijff
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Someone who has juggled the ball in the air during a game, after which four defenders of the opponent get the time to run back, that's the player people think is great. I say he has to go to a circus.
Johan Cruijff
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Football is a simple game. It's just very hard to play it simple.
Johan Cruijff
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Mourinho is a coach of titles, not football. Or rather, not a football coach if we understand the sport is a spectacle or entertainment for those who watch it, either at home or live in the stadium.
Johan Cruijff
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There is only one ball, so you need to have it.
Johan Cruijff
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After you've won something, you're no longer 100 percent, but 90 percent. It's like a bottle of carbonated water where the cap is removed for a short while. Afterwards there's a little less gas inside.
Johan Cruijff
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I don't make a lot of mistakes, because it's hard for me to be wrong
Johan Cruijff
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I find it terrible when talents are rejected based on computer stats. Based on the criteria at Ajax now I would have been rejected. When I was 15, I couldn't kick a ball 15 meters with my left and maybe 20 with my right. My qualities technique and vision, are not detectable by a computer.
Johan Cruijff
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Italy cannot beat you but you can lose to Italy.
Johan Cruijff
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I look at Messi, and he makes me laugh. A beautiful footballer who is still like a kid. A world superstar, but still a kid. Innocent, you know. He just plays.
Johan Cruijff
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Football is a game of mistakes. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins.
Johan Cruijff
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Italians can't win the game against you, but you can lose the game against the Italians.
Johan Cruijff
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Football is about having the best offensive play possible. I always like to play offensive football, and nobody will convince me otherwise.
Johan Cruijff
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Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate.
Johan Cruijff
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The most difficult thing about an easy match is to make a weak opponent play bad football.
Johan Cruijff