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If you play on possession, you don't have to defend, because there's only one ball

Johan Cruijff

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Johan Cruijff
Possession
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More quotes by Johan Cruijff

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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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I'm not religious. In Spain all 22 players make the sign of the cross before they enter the pitch. If it works all matches must therefore end in a draw.
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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Italians can't win the game against you, but you can lose the game against the Italians.
Johan Cruijff
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Often you see people who move there and then, once they have arrived, the ball moves here after which they also come here, but then the ball goes there again. I say: just stay where you are, then you are in any case at the right place half of the time.
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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I always threw the ball in, because then if I got the ball back, I was the only player unmarked.
Johan Cruijff
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Every trainer talks about movement, about running a lot. I say don't run so much. Football is a game you play with your brain. You have to be in the right place at the right moment, not too early, not too late.
Johan Cruijff
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Every advantage has its disadvantage.
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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The difference between right and wrong is often not more than five metres.
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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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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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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In small space a player has to be capable of acting quickly. A good player who needs too much time can suddenly become a poor player.
Johan Cruijff
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Coincidence is logical.
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 are very few players who know what to do when they're not marked. So sometimes you tell a player: that attacker is very good, but don't mark him.
Johan Cruijff
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There’s only one moment in which you can arrive in time. If you’re not there, you’re either too early or too late.
Johan Cruijff
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There is only one ball, so you need to have it.
Johan Cruijff