JOHAN CRUYFF
The man and his words...
The man and his words...
“At the moment, we have 12 or 14 mini-pitches, but our aim is to build 100. If you have 100 you have almost created a football school within the cities, towns and villages. Then we can begin to say we’ve brought street football back to life. It’s wonderful to see the educational side – teaching the kids to respect their opponents, to respect the ball. And it’s fantastic in one very special sense – integration. (on his mini pitch project in Holland)
People talk about Amsterdam being a city of 30 languages, 30 religions, all kinds of diversity. How do you communicate? Football helps. We’re not just talking about the kids; we’re talking about the parents who talk to each other when they watch the kids. All sorts of things start happening.”
People talk about Amsterdam being a city of 30 languages, 30 religions, all kinds of diversity. How do you communicate? Football helps. We’re not just talking about the kids; we’re talking about the parents who talk to each other when they watch the kids. All sorts of things start happening.”
"For all their general concern about a decline in technique, Cruyff and Bergkamp argue that flair still flourishes at the very highest level. "In Barcelona, I see Messi, Bojan, Iniesta and Sergi Busquets, who's so fantastic to watch,'' Cruyff said.”In the Premier League there are a lot of good players like [Theo] Walcott and Van Persie.''
The emergence of such players encouraged Cruyff to believe that Total Football could live in the tactical modern world . "Yes! Why not? Its 11 v 11, the field is the same size. The biggest change is that a lot of people paid attention to the physical side and forgot the technical side"
The emergence of such players encouraged Cruyff to believe that Total Football could live in the tactical modern world . "Yes! Why not? Its 11 v 11, the field is the same size. The biggest change is that a lot of people paid attention to the physical side and forgot the technical side"
“Football is a game you play with your brain. The game consists of different elements: technique, tactics and stamina. But the main thing is tactics, insight, trust and daring.”
“I love football – particularly beautiful football.”
“Football is simple. But the hardest thing is to play football in a simple way.”
“It’s better to fail with your own vision rather than following another man’s vision.”
“Each disadvantage has its advantage.”
“I never practice tricks. I play very simply. That’s what it’s all about. Playing simple football is the hardest thing. That’s the problem of all trainers. Simple play is also the most beautiful. How often do you see a pass of more than 40 metres when 20 metres is enough? Or a one-two in the penalty area when there are seven people around you when a simple wide pass around the seven would be a solution? The solution that seems the simplest is in fact the most difficult one.”
“Football consists of different elements: technique, tactics and stamina.
Stamina I have, tactics I have and technique I’ve always had. There are some people who might have better technique than me and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust and daring. In the tactical area, I think I just have more than most players. You probably can’t teach personal tactical insight. At most, if a person has some, you can perhaps influence it a little bit. It’s very hard.”
Stamina I have, tactics I have and technique I’ve always had. There are some people who might have better technique than me and some may be fitter than me, but the main thing is tactics. With most players tactics are missing. You can divide tactics into insight, trust and daring. In the tactical area, I think I just have more than most players. You probably can’t teach personal tactical insight. At most, if a person has some, you can perhaps influence it a little bit. It’s very hard.”
“I think people should be able to play in all different positions on the field…That’s why it is so important everyone listens when you have a tactical conversation. The left winger can’t go to sleep when Michels talks about the right back.”
“My attackers only have to run 15 metres, unless they’re stupid or sleeping.”
“Football should always be played beautifully, you should play in an attacking way, it must be a spectacle.”
“I want players who can make decisive moves in tiny spaces. I want them to do as little work as possible to save their energy for that one action.”
Paul Cooper
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Paul,
ReplyDeleteExcellent blog - please keep up the great work, all your articles are of great interest.
Cheers,
Neil