Johan Cruijff citáty

O světě, O fotbale

„Hráči, kteří nejsou opravdoví lídři, ale snaží se jimi být, vždycky ostatním nadávají za chyby. Praví lídři dopředu předpokládají, že k chybám dojde.“

O chybách

„Je statisticky dokázané, že hráč má na kopačce balon v průměru 3 minuty za zápas. Nejdůležitější věcí tedy je, co děláte během těch 87 minut, kdy míč nemáte. To rozhoduje o tom, jestli jste dobrý hráč, nebo ne.“

„Proč by člověk nemohl porazit bohatší klub? Nikdy jsem neviděl, že by balík peněz vstřelil gól.“

„Nejsem věřící. Ve Španělsku se všech 22 hráčů před vstupem na hřiště pomodlí. Kdyby to fungovalo, všechny zápasy by musely skončit remízou.“

„O hráči, který během hry žongluje s balonem, mezitím co se čtyři obránci soupeřova týmu stačí vrátit zpátky, si lidi myslí, že je skvělý. Já říkám, že patří do cirkusu.“

O hře

„Kvalita bez výsledků je k ničemu. Výsledky bez kvality jsou nudné.“

„Jsem ex-hráč, ex-kouč, ex-manažer, ex-čestný prezident. Krásný list, který vám ale jen znovu připomíná, že všechno má svůj konec.“

„Když máte míč, snažte se udělat prostor na hřišti co největší. A když ho nemáte, udělejte ho co možná nejmenší.“

„Musíte se ujistit, že nejhorší hráči soupeřova týmu mají balon na kopačkách co nejčastěji. Míč se vám pak totiž vždy co nevidět vrátí.“

„Pokud nemůžeš vyhrát, zajisti, abys neprohrál.“

„Co je to rychlost? Média si často pletou rychlost s přehledem o hře. Vždyť když se rozběhnu o chvíli dřív než někdo jiný, tak to pak jednoduše vypadá, že jsem rychlejší.“

O hře, O rychlosti

„Technika není o tom, že umíte udělat tisíc nožiček. To může zvládnout s trochou cviku kdokoli. A pak může jít pracovat do cirkusu.“

„Football is now all about money. There are problems with the values within the game. And this is sad because football is the most beautiful game. We can play it in the street. We can play it everywhere. Everyone can play it but those values are being lost. We have to bring them back.“

In an interview with The Guardian's Donald McRae in September 2014 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/sep/12/johan-cruyff-louis-van-gaal-manchester-united.

„We showed the world you could enjoy being a footballer; you could laugh and have a fantastic time. I represent the era which proved that attractive football was enjoyable and successful, and good fun to play too.“

In They said It: Johan Cruyff ( FIFA.com, 25 April 2014 http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2014/m=4/news=they-said-it-johan-cruyff-2323958.html).

„Van Gaal has a good vision on football. But it's not mine. He wants to gel winning teams and has a militaristic way of working with his tactics. I don't. I want individuals to think for themselves and take the decision on the pitch that is best for the situation… I don't have anything against computers, but you judge football players intuitively and with your heart.“

reported in Maarten Meijer (2014). Louis van Gaal: The Biography.

„You should know that I had problems at the end of my career as a player here and I don't know if you know that someone [put] a rifle at my head and tied me up and tied up my wife in front of the children at our flat in Barcelona. The children were going to school accompanied by the police. The police slept in our house for three or four months. I was going to matches with a bodyguard. All these things change your point of view towards many things. There are moments in life in which there are other values. We wanted to stop this and be a little more sensible. It was the moment to leave football and I couldn't play in the World Cup after this.“

In an interview with Catalunya Radio (April 2008) https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/apr/17/newsstory.sport, he said that the attempted kidnap (in 1977) was the reason he decided not to go to the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.

„Right now, I have the feeling that I am 2-0 up in the first half of a match that has not finished yet. But I am sure that I will end up winning.“

Eurosport.com, 13 February 2016 http://www.eurosport.com/football/liga/2015-2016/johan-cruyff-i-m-2-0-up-at-half-time-in-battle-against-lung-cancer_sto5174173/story.shtml.

„There is no medal better than being acclaimed for your style. As a coach, my teams might have won more games if we’d played in a less adventurous way. Maybe I’d have earned a little more and the bonuses would have been bigger, but if people say that Barcelona were playing the nicest football in the world with me as coach, what more can I ask for? If you’re appearing in the World Cup final it may be the biggest occasion of your life, so why be sad and fearful? Be happy, express yourself and play. Make it special for you and for everyone watching. For the good of football, we need a team of invention, attacking ideas and style to emerge. Even if it doesn't win, it will inspire footballers of all ages everywhere. That is the greatest reward.“

reported in David Winner (2012). Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football.

„Who am I supporting? I am Dutch but I support the football that Spain is playing. Spain's style is the style of Barcelona. Spain, a replica of Barça, is the best publicity for football.“