Things moved really quickly. I made my debut for Ajax’s first team when I was 17 and just one year later we were in the Europa League final, a game I also played in. And then, a year-and-a-half later, we reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. So a lot happened in those first three years of my career; I also made my debut for the Dutch national team.
Yes, definitely one of the reasons. I grew up playing a certain way at Ajax – attacking football, applying lots of pressure in forward areas –that is ingrained in me. But I also wanted to learn about the art of defending so I could become more complete. I’m benefitting from that now, playing at an even higher level for Bayern.
During training, you learn a lot from them. Of course, I tried to watch what they do, but in the end you shouldn’t stray too far from what you are. I had my qualities and they had their qualities.
Yes, I mentioned those because they are defenders, but they aren’t the only ones. I've read many more. I find them really interesting because I feel I can learn something from everyone. I've also read Zlatan [Ibrahimović]'s, [Cristiano] Ronaldo's, and [Lionel] Messi's.
It’s not necessarily what you do on the pitch but your way of thinking: how you experience the sport, how professional you are, how you handle disappointments, mistakes and pressure. That’s what I try to get from books like that. Those players have experienced all those things.
I have always looked up to Sergio Ramos. He was always a great role model for me, the way he went into a game, a real winner. He used to be my example and I tried to be like him, but I’ve come to realise that every player is unique. I focus now on things that I’m good at, and that I can improve on.
The Champions League has had a massive impact. You’re playing against big-name players and you realise that you used to look up to them, but you are now competing at their level. The fact is that you already had those skills, but now you have a stage to showcase them.
Of course! That’s what every player wants. With Juventus, we lost in the last 16 three times in a row. This year we've made it to the quarter-finals with Bayern, so I cannot wait for what’s to come in the Champions League.
It’s funny because everybody has seen a slide tackle and that in itself isn’t really very special. But as a defender, you always have to assume that your teammate is going to make a mistake. In this case, it was the goalkeeper. It looks spectacular, but I think nine out of ten players would have been able to clear it away easily. What makes it special is that I’m already moving before the goalkeeper loses the ball, enabling me to intervene.
Yes, that’s how it felt, because we were under pressure in the game. Those are important moments in a match, and that’s what provoked that reaction and the feeling that everything was still possible.
I need to keep that a secret! If there ever is going to be a book, it's going to be a long time from now.
Things moved really quickly. I made my debut for Ajax’s first team when I was 17 and just one year later we were in the Europa League final, a game I also played in. And then, a year-and-a-half later, we reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. So a lot happened in those first three years of my career; I also made my debut for the Dutch national team.
Yes, definitely one of the reasons. I grew up playing a certain way at Ajax – attacking football, applying lots of pressure in forward areas –that is ingrained in me. But I also wanted to learn about the art of defending so I could become more complete. I’m benefitting from that now, playing at an even higher level for Bayern.
During training, you learn a lot from them. Of course, I tried to watch what they do, but in the end you shouldn’t stray too far from what you are. I had my qualities and they had their qualities.
Yes, I mentioned those because they are defenders, but they aren’t the only ones. I've read many more. I find them really interesting because I feel I can learn something from everyone. I've also read Zlatan [Ibrahimović]'s, [Cristiano] Ronaldo's, and [Lionel] Messi's.
It’s not necessarily what you do on the pitch but your way of thinking: how you experience the sport, how professional you are, how you handle disappointments, mistakes and pressure. That’s what I try to get from books like that. Those players have experienced all those things.
I have always looked up to Sergio Ramos. He was always a great role model for me, the way he went into a game, a real winner. He used to be my example and I tried to be like him, but I’ve come to realise that every player is unique. I focus now on things that I’m good at, and that I can improve on.
The Champions League has had a massive impact. You’re playing against big-name players and you realise that you used to look up to them, but you are now competing at their level. The fact is that you already had those skills, but now you have a stage to showcase them.
Of course! That’s what every player wants. With Juventus, we lost in the last 16 three times in a row. This year we've made it to the quarter-finals with Bayern, so I cannot wait for what’s to come in the Champions League.
It’s funny because everybody has seen a slide tackle and that in itself isn’t really very special. But as a defender, you always have to assume that your teammate is going to make a mistake. In this case, it was the goalkeeper. It looks spectacular, but I think nine out of ten players would have been able to clear it away easily. What makes it special is that I’m already moving before the goalkeeper loses the ball, enabling me to intervene.
Yes, that’s how it felt, because we were under pressure in the game. Those are important moments in a match, and that’s what provoked that reaction and the feeling that everything was still possible.
I need to keep that a secret! If there ever is going to be a book, it's going to be a long time from now.
Things moved really quickly. I made my debut for Ajax’s first team when I was 17 and just one year later we were in the Europa League final, a game I also played in. And then, a year-and-a-half later, we reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. So a lot happened in those first three years of my career; I also made my debut for the Dutch national team.
Yes, definitely one of the reasons. I grew up playing a certain way at Ajax – attacking football, applying lots of pressure in forward areas –that is ingrained in me. But I also wanted to learn about the art of defending so I could become more complete. I’m benefitting from that now, playing at an even higher level for Bayern.
During training, you learn a lot from them. Of course, I tried to watch what they do, but in the end you shouldn’t stray too far from what you are. I had my qualities and they had their qualities.
Yes, I mentioned those because they are defenders, but they aren’t the only ones. I've read many more. I find them really interesting because I feel I can learn something from everyone. I've also read Zlatan [Ibrahimović]'s, [Cristiano] Ronaldo's, and [Lionel] Messi's.
It’s not necessarily what you do on the pitch but your way of thinking: how you experience the sport, how professional you are, how you handle disappointments, mistakes and pressure. That’s what I try to get from books like that. Those players have experienced all those things.
I have always looked up to Sergio Ramos. He was always a great role model for me, the way he went into a game, a real winner. He used to be my example and I tried to be like him, but I’ve come to realise that every player is unique. I focus now on things that I’m good at, and that I can improve on.
The Champions League has had a massive impact. You’re playing against big-name players and you realise that you used to look up to them, but you are now competing at their level. The fact is that you already had those skills, but now you have a stage to showcase them.
Of course! That’s what every player wants. With Juventus, we lost in the last 16 three times in a row. This year we've made it to the quarter-finals with Bayern, so I cannot wait for what’s to come in the Champions League.
It’s funny because everybody has seen a slide tackle and that in itself isn’t really very special. But as a defender, you always have to assume that your teammate is going to make a mistake. In this case, it was the goalkeeper. It looks spectacular, but I think nine out of ten players would have been able to clear it away easily. What makes it special is that I’m already moving before the goalkeeper loses the ball, enabling me to intervene.
Yes, that’s how it felt, because we were under pressure in the game. Those are important moments in a match, and that’s what provoked that reaction and the feeling that everything was still possible.
I need to keep that a secret! If there ever is going to be a book, it's going to be a long time from now.
Things moved really quickly. I made my debut for Ajax’s first team when I was 17 and just one year later we were in the Europa League final, a game I also played in. And then, a year-and-a-half later, we reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. So a lot happened in those first three years of my career; I also made my debut for the Dutch national team.
Yes, definitely one of the reasons. I grew up playing a certain way at Ajax – attacking football, applying lots of pressure in forward areas –that is ingrained in me. But I also wanted to learn about the art of defending so I could become more complete. I’m benefitting from that now, playing at an even higher level for Bayern.
During training, you learn a lot from them. Of course, I tried to watch what they do, but in the end you shouldn’t stray too far from what you are. I had my qualities and they had their qualities.
Yes, I mentioned those because they are defenders, but they aren’t the only ones. I've read many more. I find them really interesting because I feel I can learn something from everyone. I've also read Zlatan [Ibrahimović]'s, [Cristiano] Ronaldo's, and [Lionel] Messi's.
It’s not necessarily what you do on the pitch but your way of thinking: how you experience the sport, how professional you are, how you handle disappointments, mistakes and pressure. That’s what I try to get from books like that. Those players have experienced all those things.
I have always looked up to Sergio Ramos. He was always a great role model for me, the way he went into a game, a real winner. He used to be my example and I tried to be like him, but I’ve come to realise that every player is unique. I focus now on things that I’m good at, and that I can improve on.
The Champions League has had a massive impact. You’re playing against big-name players and you realise that you used to look up to them, but you are now competing at their level. The fact is that you already had those skills, but now you have a stage to showcase them.
Of course! That’s what every player wants. With Juventus, we lost in the last 16 three times in a row. This year we've made it to the quarter-finals with Bayern, so I cannot wait for what’s to come in the Champions League.
It’s funny because everybody has seen a slide tackle and that in itself isn’t really very special. But as a defender, you always have to assume that your teammate is going to make a mistake. In this case, it was the goalkeeper. It looks spectacular, but I think nine out of ten players would have been able to clear it away easily. What makes it special is that I’m already moving before the goalkeeper loses the ball, enabling me to intervene.
Yes, that’s how it felt, because we were under pressure in the game. Those are important moments in a match, and that’s what provoked that reaction and the feeling that everything was still possible.
I need to keep that a secret! If there ever is going to be a book, it's going to be a long time from now.
Things moved really quickly. I made my debut for Ajax’s first team when I was 17 and just one year later we were in the Europa League final, a game I also played in. And then, a year-and-a-half later, we reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. So a lot happened in those first three years of my career; I also made my debut for the Dutch national team.
Yes, definitely one of the reasons. I grew up playing a certain way at Ajax – attacking football, applying lots of pressure in forward areas –that is ingrained in me. But I also wanted to learn about the art of defending so I could become more complete. I’m benefitting from that now, playing at an even higher level for Bayern.
During training, you learn a lot from them. Of course, I tried to watch what they do, but in the end you shouldn’t stray too far from what you are. I had my qualities and they had their qualities.
Yes, I mentioned those because they are defenders, but they aren’t the only ones. I've read many more. I find them really interesting because I feel I can learn something from everyone. I've also read Zlatan [Ibrahimović]'s, [Cristiano] Ronaldo's, and [Lionel] Messi's.
It’s not necessarily what you do on the pitch but your way of thinking: how you experience the sport, how professional you are, how you handle disappointments, mistakes and pressure. That’s what I try to get from books like that. Those players have experienced all those things.
I have always looked up to Sergio Ramos. He was always a great role model for me, the way he went into a game, a real winner. He used to be my example and I tried to be like him, but I’ve come to realise that every player is unique. I focus now on things that I’m good at, and that I can improve on.
The Champions League has had a massive impact. You’re playing against big-name players and you realise that you used to look up to them, but you are now competing at their level. The fact is that you already had those skills, but now you have a stage to showcase them.
Of course! That’s what every player wants. With Juventus, we lost in the last 16 three times in a row. This year we've made it to the quarter-finals with Bayern, so I cannot wait for what’s to come in the Champions League.
It’s funny because everybody has seen a slide tackle and that in itself isn’t really very special. But as a defender, you always have to assume that your teammate is going to make a mistake. In this case, it was the goalkeeper. It looks spectacular, but I think nine out of ten players would have been able to clear it away easily. What makes it special is that I’m already moving before the goalkeeper loses the ball, enabling me to intervene.
Yes, that’s how it felt, because we were under pressure in the game. Those are important moments in a match, and that’s what provoked that reaction and the feeling that everything was still possible.
I need to keep that a secret! If there ever is going to be a book, it's going to be a long time from now.
Things moved really quickly. I made my debut for Ajax’s first team when I was 17 and just one year later we were in the Europa League final, a game I also played in. And then, a year-and-a-half later, we reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. So a lot happened in those first three years of my career; I also made my debut for the Dutch national team.
Yes, definitely one of the reasons. I grew up playing a certain way at Ajax – attacking football, applying lots of pressure in forward areas –that is ingrained in me. But I also wanted to learn about the art of defending so I could become more complete. I’m benefitting from that now, playing at an even higher level for Bayern.
During training, you learn a lot from them. Of course, I tried to watch what they do, but in the end you shouldn’t stray too far from what you are. I had my qualities and they had their qualities.
Yes, I mentioned those because they are defenders, but they aren’t the only ones. I've read many more. I find them really interesting because I feel I can learn something from everyone. I've also read Zlatan [Ibrahimović]'s, [Cristiano] Ronaldo's, and [Lionel] Messi's.
It’s not necessarily what you do on the pitch but your way of thinking: how you experience the sport, how professional you are, how you handle disappointments, mistakes and pressure. That’s what I try to get from books like that. Those players have experienced all those things.
I have always looked up to Sergio Ramos. He was always a great role model for me, the way he went into a game, a real winner. He used to be my example and I tried to be like him, but I’ve come to realise that every player is unique. I focus now on things that I’m good at, and that I can improve on.
The Champions League has had a massive impact. You’re playing against big-name players and you realise that you used to look up to them, but you are now competing at their level. The fact is that you already had those skills, but now you have a stage to showcase them.
Of course! That’s what every player wants. With Juventus, we lost in the last 16 three times in a row. This year we've made it to the quarter-finals with Bayern, so I cannot wait for what’s to come in the Champions League.
It’s funny because everybody has seen a slide tackle and that in itself isn’t really very special. But as a defender, you always have to assume that your teammate is going to make a mistake. In this case, it was the goalkeeper. It looks spectacular, but I think nine out of ten players would have been able to clear it away easily. What makes it special is that I’m already moving before the goalkeeper loses the ball, enabling me to intervene.
Yes, that’s how it felt, because we were under pressure in the game. Those are important moments in a match, and that’s what provoked that reaction and the feeling that everything was still possible.
I need to keep that a secret! If there ever is going to be a book, it's going to be a long time from now.
