Top 70 Xabi Alonso Quotes

Each time I watch a Liverpool game, I feel something special, especially whenever it’s at Anfield, because it brings back great memories.

Kroos is an excellent player.

The only thing I regret is not winning the Premier League with Liverpool. I’ll never know how that feels and experience the reaction of the city, as I did after Istanbul. It hurts because I know the people want the league title more than anything.

At the end, when you play, you want to win.

Everything can change in the Champions League.

I feel good; my family and I feel comfortable in Munich.

The midfielders are important: they have to offer themselves to receive the ball and make good use of it, take choices, try not to lose the ball and defend. But I don’t feel like a leader at all.

I don’t think I will stop learning about football. There are certain parts we will never understand, like what happens in the brain of a player or makes a team fear.

I came from my hometown team, Real Sociedad, to the best team in England, to the best team in Spain, to the best team in Germany.

Passion? Of course it’s necessary, but it’s more important to have footballing foundations, certainly, when developing players.

I still feel I have a special connection with Liverpool fans.

I wanted to end my career still at the highest level, and Bayern is the highest level.

I have played at Liverpool, a special club, grown as a player and won titles.

In England, those qualities of playing it simple, being in the right position, reading the game, knowing the right moment to make things happen around you are not appreciated. Making a tackle, a run into the box – the spectacular things are more appreciated.

Guardiola has a lot of knowledge about the game and understands the psychology of the players. You can see all the things he is doing well.

I have been progressing throughout my career, which is a very good sign.

It is a fact for any footballer – you can be really happy, but if the club don’t want you, you have to accept it.

I have been lucky enough to work with great coaches. My father was also a coach, and my position in central midfield requires tactical knowledge.

I grew up a lot as a professional and as a person in Liverpool, and I have very strong links to the club and the city.

I’m very satisfied to close my time as footballer.

Madrid is a big city. It’s very dynamic and cosmopolitan.

If you have control of the midfield, you have control of the game, and you have more chances to win.

Football is a lot to do with mental state.

If I decide somewhere along the way to take my chances as a manager, my link, my commitment, my passion with Liverpool is there.

With Senna, I am not incompatible; I am not incompatible with anyone.

Losing is a part of this sport.

My idea was to stay in Madrid. Then, when I heard of Munich’s interest, I said, ‘Xabi, think what you want and where you will be happy.’

There have been many games where Xavi and I have played together, and I think we work well.

Writing is not my thing; playing football is my thing.

Cristiano’s numbers are amazing, indisputable.

Neuer is by far the best keeper I’ve played with and is also outstanding outfield.

When the results are good, everything seems prettier; when things go bad, it seems like all conflicts, personal disputes, and problems arise.

I’ve been lucky, but I have earned that luck.

It’s hard to imagine being an ex-player. It’s not easy to find a new passion.

While I was at Madrid, for me, Cristiano was the best.

Everyone should know my quality and what I bring to the team.

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 4-1-4-1 depending on the moment or the team’s needs. He really knows what he wants.

I’m incredibly proud and happy to play for FC Bayern and to be a part of this family.

I will always be grateful to Liverpool. It is a very special club.

I have learned from all of my coaches, and I am sure I will learn a lot with Guardiola.

I know what my strengths and weaknesses are on the pitch. My duty is to be risk averse.

There are not many better clubs to play football for than Liverpool.

My family have absolutely no problem about me playing for Real Madrid. They have become Real Madrid fans.

I stay in contact with friends I have in Liverpool. It’s not a normal club; it’s so special and very important to me.

My game is not to have one great action. My game is to be consistent throughout: to bring the ball in the best and quickest possible way for the best players to make the last action.

I remember playing with my dad, and my kids will remember this as well.

I would never have dreamed to have had such a nice career as this. I like football, and this is like a nice football journey.

I have played against, but not with, Zinedine Zidane and would liked to have played with him.

I think Kimmich is a bit like Mascherano. They are similar type of players.

I hardly ever get in the box.

Being a manager is so different to being a footballer. It’s a very difficult job, but, of course, it’s very exciting as well.

Managing Liverpool? Yes, for sure, I have dreamt of that, but first I have to prove myself and prepare.

There were many good reasons to move to Bayern, and Pep Guardiola was definitely one of them.

If you go out and play your own way, anything can happen. You might win.

Cristiano has unique qualities, brings danger in one-on-one situations, and has the ability to score and find something different.

Leaving Liverpool was the toughest decision I had to make in football because I was in an exemplary club, a proper football club, with a lovely and sharing stadium that meant a lot of things to me. The fans are the best in the world, no doubt about that, and I was comfortable there.

Anything can happen in football.

If I have to yell at Cristiano Ronaldo, I yell.

They value different things in every country. In England, it’s very physical. You tackle, you shoot. I love watching it. In Spain, it’s different. Pass the ball, move, find the space.

Growing doesn’t mean renouncing your history.

I want to win the Champions League with Bayern.

Of course Zidane has surprised me as a coach. I didn’t know how he would do.

I accept I am going to miss playing because it’s such an important part in my life. It’s going to be difficult to fill that gap. Life goes on.

I don’t think tackling is a quality. It is a recurso, something you have to resort to, not a characteristic of your game.

Munich is a very good city to live in. The life quality is superb.

Mesut is one of those unique players you see every once in a while. He has the gift of a perfect touch in tight spaces that makes him special.

Matches in England are special.

I’ve played with great players and worked with great managers; I’ve learned a lot from all of them.

I don’t try to do things that might make me look stupid, because the risk is there.

Sometimes that kind of last-ditch tackle can get the crowd excited, and you get a push from that. It’s important to play with that psychological side of the game, but it depends on the quality of the player.