Success is built on organisation, determination, and experience, not to mention following the regulations, so of course it's no easy matter.
Frank Rijkaard
You see a lot of managers who are working and yet are already talking about other countries and other teams. But that's not for me.
I had a lot of success, of course, but whatever was achieved was due to a group effort on the part of all the players.
I can work with a lot of different mentalities.
I always had much respect for Rudi Voller.
As a young centre-back at Ajax, I played with Wim Jansen, and of course you learn a huge amount. I made some mistakes, because we Dutchmen want to solve situations by playing football. So we look at the ball, try to judge where it will come.
Generally speaking, I think that Frank Lampard is one of the best players in international football.
It is always a shame when players are injured.
If you want to come out of a sad moment, you have to work really hard.
I have a great deal of respect for Sir Alex Ferguson. He has done a great job. Without any doubt, he is one of the best and most influential around. He is the embodiment of football.
The national team means you have the nation behind it.
Someone said that my coaching is a combination of Milan's defensive discipline and the Dutch propensity for attacking football, and I think that is a fair description.
At Barcelona, I was exposed to talent. You had Ronaldinho, who was a marvel to watch. Deco is skilful and talented. Then there are players like Xavi, a good and hardworking man who gave his all. Iniesta is another. Then the name of Messi will come up in that list.
If someone is quite tall, the people will sing songs about his height. We don't have to overreact. You just have to do your job.
When it's a clash between two big teams, you know your players will concentrate.
You always need to have the highest respect for your opponents. If you see them fighting, you know you have to give something extra.
I made Edgar Davids vice-captain. Nothing to do with colour, just because he was playing excellently and because he lives like an athlete.
I have no desire to be 60 years old and standing on the side of the pitch.
The differences between the top teams in Euro 2000 are so minimal that I think you have to be very clever in defence and stop your opponents getting opportunities.
All the big clubs set their goals. We have to do that because it is necessary to explain to the fans. But this does not mean I am thinking only of the final results. The work you are doing every day with the team is often more important.
I see a lot of fouls on Messi, and he's not the type to overreact.
Losing against rivals is always a blow to the morale.
There is a part of football I would describe as 'serious' and one part I would describe as more 'playful,' i.e. more technical.
My aim is to get the team to work hard and stay strong together.
Pavarotti is not judged on how he sings in the shower. People wait until he gets on stage.
Without a doubt, it is easier to produce a defensive soccer team, because it does not need you to have talent for it but simply to be well organised.
The situation with Anders Frisk is clear: he was threatened by the supporters of Chelsea, and he retired because he was in fear. This is serious.
We have to remember, Mourinho worked at Barcelona. He has good memories of Barcelona. The club did well when he was here.
With every coach you work with, you learn something. Then, at the end of your career, when you become a trainer, you take something from every coach that you think is useful for you.
There are coaches with habits you don't like, and you tell yourself, 'I don't want to be like that.' But there's no one way to success.
The Dutch public always wants to see a team that is trying to be dominant, trying to play attractive football, and after that, hopefully, a team that is winning.
In the end, every coach wants the same - that's to win.
Mourinho is very intelligent; he knows what he's doing. He has the right to act like he wants to act, and he's very successful with it, so who am I to criticise him?
We can be confident about our qualities, but the qualities need something to come out.
It's always the losers who are complaining about a result.
I try to stay in the moment.
How can you judge a man until you come face to face?
The goal is always to win.
I am completely uninterested in playing beautiful football if the team doesn't win.
After your career, you go to matches, and you see so many unnecessary goals because a person is just looking where the ball is and not his opponent. Well, a ball alone has never scored a goal.
One thing was crystal clear to me: if you're centre-back, you first of all have to perform your task.
We win together, and we lose together.
When a parent has two children, it is difficult to pick one favourite.
It would not be honest if I did a review, because I've worked with Leo Messi, whom I consider the best player I've seen. I cannot comment or compare with Cristiano Ronaldo because I have not worked with him. That is not to say that I do not have as much respect for Cristiano as a footballer.
Players are sometimes sad, sometimes happy during their sporting career.
Most of the clubs who have had success against Barcelona have relied on a highly organised and disciplined defence.
He's an incredible person. Messi is not simply a uniquely talented footballer. He's also strong mentally, very bright, and exceptionally dedicated to his job. Personally speaking, I enjoy watching him play, and I'm deeply proud of him and what he has achieved. Quite simply, he's the best.
From the moment Messi was introduced, we all knew he was a unique talent. I remember Deco and Ronaldinho immediately realised how special he was, and they took him under their wing.
He was always brilliant, but when Pep Guardiola started to use him as a 'false' No. 9, he got even better. It's impossible to be more of a footballer than Messi.
I'm grateful for everything I have achieved in football, but now I'd rather do other things, go and watch games and enjoy discussing them afterwards.
