Eniola Aluko

Athlete

100 Quotes

There are a lot of football clubs that are fantastic football clubs but how they treat footballers is another story.

Players are under enough pressure to perform from fans and the media without a manager complicating matters further in public.

Sometimes clubs take their ownership of a young player for granted and do not necessarily do the best thing for their development.

My first experience playing for England was very scary and nerve wracking.

Maurizio Sarri is one of those managers who can get the best out of players who aren't necessarily world class which he proved at Napoli.

When you look at some of the greatest people and players in the world they all stand for something outside their working lives.

It can be difficult for players who are perceived to have turned their backs on England, as Wilfried Zaha has found out after deciding to play for Ivory Coast.

We can be tackled but referees are there to police dangerous challenges. Forwards are protected by the laws of the game and the way it's played, while defenders and midfielders have to throw themselves about a bit more.

It's great being part of Juventus. As expected, there's a real family feel to the club, alongside a big desire to win as often as possible.

Rita Guarino is one of the best technical coaches I have had in my career - often she demonstrates a specific technique and shows the players up!

I was obsessed with the character Atticus Finch. I really liked the idea of having a voice for the voiceless, getting someone justice against the odds. That really resonated with me.

The fear for English players has always been that you might risk a place in the national team if you go abroad but now with all the technology we have, and social media, you are able to watch goals and assists every week, which means his performances are just as noticeable as anyone's in the Premier League.

When I was a young girl I had to deal with people calling me weird and strange because I spent so much time around boys playing football.

Eventually I will own my own company and will provide advice to athletes and artists from the entertainment industry.

Sometimes it's easier to chase a title than it is to lead.

When I considered PSG before I signed for Juventus one thing that put me off was wondering what the point is of coming second every year.

You cannot underestimate Zidane's achievement of winning the Champions League three times in a row - it must have taken superb skills to motivate the likes of Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema et al to have the desire to become serial Champions League winners.

There are many clever contractual ways to let a young player continue his career elsewhere while still having first option to bring them back in future. Contracts can include a buyback clause such as Barcelona had with Cesc Fabregas, or a sell-on clause where the development club benefit financially from all the work invested in the young player.

Perhaps I am influenced by philosophies like the one at Chelsea which was 'If it isn't broken, change it' which saw us win three league titles in five years playing three different formations and tactical strategies so that the opposition could never keep up with our evolution at the time.

All over the world people know Juventus as a club affiliated with legends and success and the project with the women's side is very ambitious.

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