Quotes from Eniola Aluko

As a forward, when you have not scored for a while the desire to score gets stronger and stronger and ultimately that can work against you because you are trying too hard to do what comes naturally.

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

My mum's an amazing woman, a huge part of my life. She's very entrepreneurial, owns a very successful business. I take a lot of inspiration from that. That has as much impact on my sport as being athletic does.

I've learned things in Italy at the age of 31. Some of the passing drills are so complicated you need a high level of concentration and if you mess up the rhythm, believe me you are told!

My father was a politician. My grandfather was a politician too, maybe it's an innate idea of representing people that we have in our family. I won't go into politics. I think I can provide the voice for the voiceless through law.

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.

An opportunity to play for your country is never senseless and especially when the games are competitive.

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.

There is still this perception in football about whether people are 'English through and through.' Essentially there is not any such thing without going into a whole discussion on genetics and bloodlines of each player.

You are going to fail in sport, you are going to win sometimes, you are going to be criticised sometimes, you are going to be applauded - so it gives you... well, it's certainly given me anyway, those real-life lessons that make you bulletproof.

Success is always the best answer to critics.

I am proud to say I got 102 caps. I tweeted on the day of my 100th that I was 'grateful.'

If a player has been affected by racist chanting, then it is up to the officials to stop the game and make sure a message is read out to the supporters asking them to stop.

Look, the reality is that people will pay more for a match when Wayne Rooney is playing than when I am playing. I will never expect to be paid the same as Wayne Rooney, because I am not Wayne Rooney. And there's no getting around that.

On the pitch if I could summarise 2018 in one word it would be progress.

Off the pitch I've always believed it is healthy to switch off from football and have completely different interests too.

Thinking back to how it fell apart for Mourinho at Chelsea, I do have some sympathy for him. At most clubs it is the manager who determines the long-term stability of the players but at Chelsea it seems very much the other way round.

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.

I feel that sometimes managers think that, if they can come up with a tactic that leads to success in a major game, they can get all the plaudits.

I think obviously the men's game has a greater emphasis on physique and strength and speed. The women's game can be quite skilful and tactical by comparison.

For all his tactical genius Guardiola is also a manager who can be patient and loyal, who backs players to come out of bad patches and hit golden patches.

I've experienced it with Chelsea Women: it can be very hard at the top for long periods of time, fighting just to stay in the same position and to preserve an unbeaten run that will always come to an end.

I've been at Chelsea five years and been the butt of many jokes. And I give it back sometimes. That is the beauty of team spirit in a healthy dressing room. I'm not a sensitive, precious person.

I always try to talk to my younger teammates in the same way I would do with my older ones and you can see in their eyes how much showing them some respect means.