"The midfielders are important: they have to offer themselves to receive the ball and make good use of it, take choices, try not to lose the ball and defend. But I don't feel like a leader at all."
"People in Liverpool are very welcoming."
"I used to enjoy watching Ronald Koeman, even though he didn't play in my position. I loved the way he hit the ball, the talent he had to position himself."
"When the results are good, everything seems prettier; when things go bad, it seems like all conflicts, personal disputes, and problems arise."
"Everything can change in the Champions League."
"I have played at Liverpool, a special club, grown as a player and won titles."
"When I was a Real Sociedad player, we lost on every occasion we visited Camp Nou. Maybe that is normal for a small team, but with Liverpool and Real Madrid, you expect more."
"Guardiola has a lot of knowledge about the game and understands the psychology of the players. You can see all the things he is doing well."
"Anything can happen in football."
"Mesut is one of those unique players you see every once in a while. He has the gift of a perfect touch in tight spaces that makes him special."
"Ronaldo can create and score goals."
"Real Madrid is a big club, and like at any other big club, too, there are always critics after defeats."
"Football is a lot to do with mental state."
"I'm very satisfied to close my time as footballer."
"I accept I am going to miss playing because it's such an important part in my life. It's going to be difficult to fill that gap. Life goes on."
"I remember playing with my dad, and my kids will remember this as well."
"Kroos is an excellent player."
"I have been lucky enough to work with great coaches. My father was also a coach, and my position in central midfield requires tactical knowledge."
"I have learned from all of my coaches, and I am sure I will learn a lot with Guardiola."
"How many times have you seen me run into the box with the ball, dribbling past players? It's uncommon because it's not my game; it's not my thing."
"I don't try to do things that might make me look stupid, because the risk is there."
"At Liverpool, I used to read the match day programme, and you'd read an interview with a lad from the youth team. They'd ask age, heroes, strong points, etc. He'd reply, 'Shooting and tackling.' I can't get into my head that football development would educate tackling as a quality, something to learn, to teach, a characteristic of your play."
"I think Kimmich is a bit like Mascherano. They are similar type of players."
"I will always be grateful to Liverpool. It is a very special club."
"While I was at Madrid, for me, Cristiano was the best."
