In my position, I've always admired Claude Makelele. I grew up watching him play. I was able to play against him in the final stages of his career. I have always liked his way of playing football, and given my position and style, he's been a mirror to compare myself against.

Javier Mascherano

Before I came to Barcelona, I only thought about one facet of the game: destroying. My qualities were completely defensive, and I wouldn't take responsibility for organising my team's game, our attacks.

Javier Mascherano

Yin Would Were

This is football: one day you win, one day you lose, and there's a very fine line between them.

Javier Mascherano

You Win Very

Throughout all my career, I have been an honest person, responsible, and respectful of my team-mates and the clubs that I have played for and the countries I have lived in.

Javier Mascherano

Respect Car UN

Great players are very good technically, but they also have a huge amount of character because, without it, you will never get to see that great technique because it vanishes under pressure.

Javier Mascherano

Great Good You

I have had so many team-mates who have been technically better than me.

Javier Mascherano

Who Than Technically

The kudos and hierarchy of playing in the Premier League for a footballer is huge.

Javier Mascherano

Yin T Premier League

I've always believed that training with great players makes you a better player.

Javier Mascherano

Great You Wit

I lived three unforgettable years with Liverpool. I will always be grateful for everything to the club and, especially, the fans. From day one, they behaved impeccably and were amazing.

Javier Mascherano

Amazing Years Year

I remember my first Champions League final in 1996: Juventus-Ajax. That's the clearest memory from my childhood.

Javier Mascherano

Vent Us T

I like talking about football.

Javier Mascherano

Talking Talk T

In my position, I've always admired Claude Makelele. I grew up watching him play. I was able to play against him in the final stages of his career. I have always liked his way of playing football, and given my position and style, he's been a mirror to compare myself against.

Javier Mascherano

Car Age Yin

I have always tried to live football from a survivalist perspective.

Javier Mascherano

Ways Way Tried

Playing in England was a fantastic experience. In Liverpool, I felt at home and really, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Javier Mascherano

Home Experience Yin

Even just a little bit of praise can weaken you.

Javier Mascherano

You Weak Us

Football is not as easy as it looks from the television gantry.

Javier Mascherano

Vision Try Television

Honestly, after five, six months, I thought it was unlikely I'd be here long: my characteristics seemed to go against everything Barcelona stood for.

Javier Mascherano

Very Unlikely Unlike

Playing at coach is very easy; actually doing it is another thing. Put yourself in the coach's position, and you'll see how complex everything is.

Javier Mascherano

Yourself Yours Your

One day I won't play for Barcelona. I'll go and play somewhere else, and I'm sure I'll do so as a central midfielder. That's what I'll try to do because it's the position I like.

Javier Mascherano

Won Where Use

Liverpool is a club where you need to be there to enjoy it. It's not worth owning Liverpool if you are going to always be 20,000 miles away.

Javier Mascherano

You Worth Where

I've always been a very passionate football supporter, and I used to watch the Champions League.

Javier Mascherano

Ways Way Watch

Being the Barca coach is different to being the coach at another club because you have to adapt to the philosophy of the club. At other clubs, maybe you have the freedom to adapt the team to your way of thinking. Here, that's not the case.

Javier Mascherano

My feeling for Liverpool does not mean I'm tied to them.

Javier Mascherano

When I couldn't play at West Ham, I kept my mentality, and I went to train every day to be a better player.

Javier Mascherano

I didn't have the chance to play at West Ham, but in football, you always have a chance. When I went to Liverpool, I had the chance to show my quality.

Javier Mascherano

One lives every World Cup differently, mostly because one's age changes.

Javier Mascherano

For Argentina I'm a central midfielder. Always have been and always will be.

Javier Mascherano

When you have someone better ahead of you, you accept it and try to turn the situation around.

Javier Mascherano

I'm not a player that gets angry, especially not with coaches.

Javier Mascherano

When you are not winning games in a row, you don't have confidence, and it is difficult to show all the qualities that you have.

Javier Mascherano

In football, 80% of the game is played in your head; the other 20% is physical and tactical.

Javier Mascherano

I don't go out to enjoy myself: I enjoy myself when I'm learning in training, but I don't enjoy the 90 minutes I spend out on the pitch during a game.

Javier Mascherano

The Champions League was something very distant for us. I grew up in a very small town with 50,000 inhabitants, and it was a way of being able to watch my idols or people I admired play football on television.

Javier Mascherano

I'm a sporting professional; I don't have a great understanding of tax and legal matters.

Javier Mascherano