“I played football for seven years in Spain and was called everything because I was from South America, and I never went out crying like a baby, like Patrice Evra, saying that someone had said something to me.” YearsSaidAmericaCryFootballBabySouthSevenSpainSeven YearsSouth America Author:Gus Poyet
“Is this good for English football? In the short run, Chelsea's rise has broken up what was turning into an irritating Arsenal-Manchester United duopoly. But football leagues (look at Scotland, look at Spain) can get along OK with duopolies. A monopoly, however, is a disaster. Everyone else in the Premiership has to operate on some kind of business footing, and the terror stalking Highbury and Old Trafford is that Chelsea will be immune from financial discipline forever.” LooksKindRunningUnitedForeverFootballBrokenDisciplineFinancialTerrorDisasterSoccerAnalysisLeagueScotlandSpainMonopolyImmuneStalkingManchesterArsenalIrritatingChelseaManchester UnitedBroken UpEnglish FootballFinancial Discipline Author:Matthew Engel
“A player who dives and wins a penalty in Portugal, or Spain or Italy is considered clever, experienced, cunning, someone who understands the game. In England a player who wins a penalty like that is a cheat.” GamesWinningPlayerFootballEnglandCleverManagersSoccerPenaltiesCheatSpainCunningChairmanPortugal Author:Jose Mourinho
“I've still got Paul Scholes' shirt at home which I swapped with him once. When I was at Liverpool he was one of the players I liked most. Maybe he's not valued as much as he should be in England because of the style of football there and because he keeps a low profile. Perhaps he would have been more valued in Spain, where midfielders like him form part of the 'ideal.' Fans in Spain rate him very highly and I admire him a huge amount.” ShouldHas BeensStillsHomeFormPlayerFansStyleFootballHugeAmountLowsIdealsEnglandRateAdmireShirtsSpainProfileLiverpoolScholesPaul ScholesMidfielders Author:Xabi Alonso
“In my first season I was learning about English football in a new team. I scored 13 which isn't bad, but I think I can do better.” ThinkingFirstsI CanCan DoTeamFootballSeasonsSpainEnglish Football Author:Luis Garcia
“When I was younger, I had some close friends who always loved European football, and Real Madrid at that time were the dominant force. I remember family holidays when we used to go to Spain, and we'd bring back replica shirts of Real Madrid and pretend to be the players when we played in the park.” RealRememberUsedForcePlayerFootballShirtsParksHolidayDominantSpainClose FriendsMadridReplicaReal MadridFamily Holiday Author:Gareth Bale
“You can feel the same thing in football or soccer - that for the best teams in Spain and England, for instance, the public... they're not really going to cheer at all when they play against bad teams unless they do something spectacular. Even if they're winning by a few goals they'll probably just say, "nah." That's normal and they're not excited about it.” IfsFeelsPlayWinningGoalTeamFootballNormalEnglandExcitedInstanceSoccerCheerSpainSpectacularBest Team Author:Magnus Carlsen
“I like a lot of sports. Especially football - it's my favourite sport. My uncle played football in Barcelona for nine years and played for Spain in three World Cups.” WorldYearsThreeSportsFootballNineCupsFavouriteUnclesSpainWorld CupNine YearsBarcelona Author:Rafael Nadal