I left Real Madrid for the same reason Di Maria did. We work hard but only others get the praise. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
To be fighting at European level, you need players who know how to play in the big games. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I know what my strengths and weaknesses are on the pitch. My duty is to be risk averse. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
Of course Zidane has surprised me as a coach. I didn't know how he would do. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I don't think I will stop learning about football. There are certain parts we will never understand, like what happens in the… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
It is difficult to copy Real Madrid, as not every team has those players who can run with such explosion, like Ronaldo. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
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… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I have improved with time by playing for elite teams in elite leagues and the Champions League and with the Spanish national… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I've still got Paul Scholes' shirt at home, which I swapped with him once. When I was at Liverpool, he was one… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
When I was a Real Sociedad player, we lost on every occasion we visited Camp Nou. Maybe that is normal for a… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I don't think tackling is a quality. It is a recurso, something you have to resort to, not a characteristic of your… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
Passion? Of course it's necessary, but it's more important to have footballing foundations, certainly, when developing players. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
Neuer is by far the best keeper I've played with and is also outstanding outfield. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
It is a fact for any footballer - you can be really happy, but if the club don't want you, you have… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I have played against, but not with, Zinedine Zidane and would liked to have played with him. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I'm incredibly proud and happy to play for FC Bayern and to be a part of this family. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
There were many good reasons to move to Bayern, and Pep Guardiola was definitely one of them. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
Of course it's better to have good players to build a better team. But to build a team, you need to have… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I think Kimmich is a bit like Mascherano. They are similar type of players. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
Cristiano has unique qualities, brings danger in one-on-one situations, and has the ability to score and find something different. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I grew up a lot as a professional and as a person in Liverpool, and I have very strong links to the… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
Sometimes that kind of last-ditch tackle can get the crowd excited, and you get a push from that. It's important to play… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I came from my hometown team, Real Sociedad, to the best team in England, to the best team in Spain, to the… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
That is probably the biggest issue about the English game. You need to be a great player and great at striking the… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
They value different things in every country. In England, it's very physical. You tackle, you shoot. I love watching it. In Spain,… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
Guardiola has a lot of knowledge about the game and understands the psychology of the players. You can see all the things… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I would never have dreamed to have had such a nice career as this. I like football, and this is like a… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
Mesut is one of those unique players you see every once in a while. He has the gift of a perfect touch… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share Image
I have learned from all of my coaches, and I am sure I will learn a lot with Guardiola. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share
To be fighting at European level, you need players who know how to play in the big games. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share
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;… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share
If I decide somewhere along the way to take my chances as a manager, my link, my commitment, my passion with Liverpool is there. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share
That is probably the biggest issue about the English game. You need to be a great player and great at striking the ball, of… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share
I have played at Liverpool, a special club, grown as a player and won titles. — Xabi Alonso Copy Share
Leaving Liverpool was the toughest decision I had to make in football because I was in an exemplary club, a proper football club, with… — Xabi Alonso Copy Share
