"Of course, I’ve had lonely moments, particularly being the only woman coach, you felt different. But I've never tried to act like a man. Why should I? I’ll always be myself."

"I really love the medals but what I’m proud of most, absolutely most, is that now young girls have perspective, young girls can play football and young girls can wear shirts [with players’ names on]"

"It's not all about money. I think the most valuable thing we have accomplished is that little girls now have role models… My heart is in the women's game and my thoughts are on the women's game."

"Growing up, I heard so many times, “That's not for women.” And I think when you hear that over and over, you believe it. You have to be very strong to stick to what you love, but that's what I did."

"You can be honest. It doesn’t mean that you’re rude. Just be direct."

"This generation of women who are now at the highest level of football also have another purpose that comes with their visibility: to try and make the world a better place for the next generation."

"You can just say what you think and still be very respectful."

"I had to cut my hair to play, so for me it's so important that little girls can play football if they want to. That's what I really want to fight for."

"I really felt very strongly that we have to support these women. We need to support each other."

"I feel that everyone has their own thing about them that makes them unique."

"I’m loud when it comes to celebrating. I like to be around people after a game."

"I do play better when I have a sense of freedom on the pitch. Any time I’ve got that, I’m happy."

"I love football so much but it’s also important for me to switch off in order to perform well. I need to switch off after training so that I am mentally fresh for the next session."

"It is strange but I’m proud to be considered a role model. It’s almost weird to hear those words but they mean a lot."

"When you come home and you’ve won, you’ll be energetic and to go back to a quiet place with all that adrenaline going is not for me. I like to hang out with the other girls, chill and just enjoy the win."

"I don’t like to tell myself “you need to score ten times”."

"It’s so important to be yourself and follow those ambitions. Regardless of what people say."

"I wouldn’t say I’m looking for attention or the spotlight, no. I’d say that if I deserve the spotlight because of how I’m playing then I’d want it but for me I’m driven over good performances rather than looking for attention."

"A lot of people set targets and that works for them but for me I just live in the moment."

"I want to be one of the best players in the world. That’s my goal, that’s what I want to achieve."

"It’s important for me to have fun. On the pitch, off the pitch and cerebrate if you win."

"People expect a lot of me, which is normal and I also want them to, but I am still one of the youngest here."

"We’re comfortable, we have fun and we’re successful."

"I’m focused on playing well rather than searching for fame or anything like that."

"Pressure! No, I’m pretty chilled. I go game by game, week to week rather than setting goals."

"Now I’m older and a more important player. And while that brings pressure with it, I like it too."

"My focus is always on that particular game and that moment. I try not to think beyond that."

"I basically live in the moment, game by game."

"To reach the top is easy, but staying there is hard. You have to keep working hard while also taking care of yourself."

"And you should always want to have more, wanting to be the best. You should always want to improve yourself, because it doesn't come naturally."

"Your freedom is different. People are watching you without you having any idea that people are watching you."

"The most important thing is that little kids, little girls have a dream they can accomplish now."

"Unfortunately, I didn't have a tail, otherwise I would have waggled it."

"Professional football is something like war. Whoever behaves too properly, is lost."

"Both as a player and as a trainer there is nobody who taught me as much as him. I will miss Rinus Michels. ... I always greatly admired his leadership."

"Players today can only shoot with their laces. I could shoot with the inside, laces, and outside of both feet. In other words, I was six times better than today’s players."

"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."

"He [Cruyff] has been inspirational to me along my career. When I was giving my first steps as a footballer he was a myth, an icon to follow. Afterwards, when I became a football manager, Cruyff was one of my references."

"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."

"If you can't win, make sure you don't lose."

"If you look at the greatest players in history, most of them couldn’t coach. If you look at the greatest coaches in history, most of them were not great players. Johan Cruyff did both – and in such an exhilarating style."

"He [Cruyff] can be seen as a revolutionary, a dreamer, a visionary, and an innovator who changed the idea of a game in which strength was the primary consideration to another one based, and focused, on ability and technique, giving birth to what has been called “tiki-taka.” He used to say that football should be played with the brain. (...) He would always talk about football in the same way he did when he was playing and coaching—with plenty of passion and excitement. A legend has gone but he has left an important legacy."

"Every disadvantage has its advantage."

"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."

"As a player and as a manager he [Cruyff] won a lot of titles, but that's not his legacy. The titles only help. Johan has changed two clubs. Not only did he change Ajax, but also Barcelona – and then the Dutch and Spanish national teams, too. Forget the titles. I've won more titles than him. Messi, for example, is someone runs less and in that he's the best of Cruyff's alumni. (...) I would not have been capable of doing what he did at Barcelona. He changed everything. He did it all. What Cruyff's done for football cannot be compared. The statue thing is superficial. He has made us love this sport so openly that there's no way we can forget him."

"It is about creating one philosophy, one mentality, from the bottom of the club to the top. Cruyff is the one who started it all. He has been the club's most influential figure. We all have the ability to do certain things, but I would not have been able to build something from scratch like Cruyff did. I learned a lot of things from him. I cannot imagine the current Barcelona without Cruyff's work."

"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."

"Cruyff introduced some passing drills into Barça's ‘arterial’ system. And since then, the rondos have been not just a method but a symbol of the club's playing style: of dominating and never losing the ball. Cruyff blended several ideas and concepts and converted them into a philosophy – the seeds of which were planted throughout a club in urgent need of a footballing identity. Until then, the first team of Barcelona had been comfortably living in a world of excuses and enemies, content with their role as victims when faced with Real Madrid, an institution seen from Catalonia as the club of the Establishment."

"Cruyff was the first player who understood that he was an artist, and the first who was able and willing to collectivise the art of sports."

"Because you play football with your head, and your legs are there to help you. If you don't use your head, using your feet won't be sufficient. Why does a player have to chase the ball? Because he started running too late. You have to pay attention, use your brain and find the right position. If you get to the ball late, it means you chose the wrong position. Bergkamp was never late."