Ajax is a multicultural club, and we have found that many talented immigrant players quit when they reach puberty. So we wanted to tackle this problem with someone from the same background who had come through it. And that was Edgar Davids. During one of our fights, I pointed that out to him. But it had nothing to do with his skin colour.
How can you create a team and bring all these egos together? The main goal for Manchester United is for them to play well - and not have a player saying, 'I play well; I scored two goals'. Because if I score two goals, but three goals go into our net, then we lose.
The romance of English football is fantastic, but it has lost its identity under the influence of other cultures.
The most important part are the fans, that people going home are happy. It's their time off, and you should give them something to enjoy.
Football is a game of mistakes. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes wins.
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 other players.
I look at Messi, and he makes me laugh. A beautiful footballer who is still like a kid. A world superstar, but still a kid. Innocent, you know. He just plays.
Van Gaal has a good vision of football, but it is not mine. He wants to gel winning teams and has a militaristic way of working with his tactics. I want individuals to think for themselves.
To win you have to score one more goal than your opponent.
All these countries like Holland and Scotland, they create their own problems. They are always complaining, but they don't solve anything. Don't look at what you don't have; look at what you can create.
Italians can not beat us, but we can certainly lose against them.
I'm not religious. In Spain all 22 players make the sign of the cross before they enter the pitch. If it works all matches must therefore end in a draw.
There is no greater medal than to be acclaimed for your style.
My foundation now has some 120 football pitches laid out for children, a lot of them immigrants. We live in a multicultural society.
My generation put in a lot more hours playing football after school than kids today. These days, all the football these kids play, they play at their clubs, so the clubs need to work seriously on the basic skills.
Quality without results is pointless. Results without quality is boring.
In the Premier League, the money is a problem, but I don't really know how to control it.
Football should never be a worry. It should be exciting. When a child plays football outside, he doesn't need to worry. Professionals should be the same.
I learned my English from Keith Spurgeon. He had some small children, and I was young, too, and so we spoke the language together, and it was fantastic.
I don't want to be a thief of my own wallet.
