Quotes from Scott Parker

I came from Charlton, and no disrespect to them, but I was there from the age of nine and going to Chelsea when I was 21 or 22, I had never experienced or seen world-class players or people in that sense.

As a manager, first and foremost I want a team with a good mentality, a team with character, a team that represents the club and the fans.

People talk about my age, but you could probably include me in that. I haven't got a lot of experience at international level. I am 30 and one of the oldest in the squad, but I am new to this as well and have not been to a big, big tournament. But this is an evolving England team.

I defend and track my runners but, if there's another big asset you need as a midfielder, it's to score goals. I scored goals in the reserves and the youth team but since I've got into the first team I've lost that a little bit.

I don't see as much of a resilience any more. I look at my kids sometimes and it's so easy to jump from one ship to the next.

Management isn't just about tactics and what happens on the training ground or in a game. Of course you need those skills. But what you also need is people skills.

And, for me, there is a passion in managing or coaching, whether it is working on a training ground or dealing with a 16-year-old who has a problem I can help him out with. I get quite a buzz from that.

As a young lad you go on adrenalin. You run out, look at the crowd, run around at 100mph and you can do it.

I was brought up in a slightly older style. I don't play with my collar up.

You always worry about how the players are seeing it when you're losing games, so you've got to keep your messages very clear in their minds.

When you are pushed out of your comfort zone, that's when you realise you may have to learn a little bit more.

My dad told me to tuck my shirt in, look good and respect the game, so that has become embedded in me.

We want to see goals and excitement but I am sorry to say that VAR is killing every part of that. You are losing the raw emotion of the game we absolutely love.

The facts are, the reality is, you can't really enjoy it. You win a football match and by the time you get to Saturday night, having a beer or a Chinese, you're already thinking about Monday morning, the next game.

When I watch the best in the world, I want to be like them. We all have a fascination, all of us, with Spain.

I'm not going to be negative and say it's fine to lose three or four on the bounce, of course not, but if it happens, we have to cope with it. I've been involved in relegated teams and they are the ones where a few defeats cripple you and you allow it to become a spiral.

I really want to make Charlton a stable side in the Premier League but I'd be lying if I said England wasn't in the back of my mind.

We are trying to make football so pure and sterile it becomes unrealistic.

My England career had been very up and down - I had been involved in some squads, and not in others, so it had been very patchy.

The journey you go on, the ups and downs, I'm the face that fronts it up. But behind the scenes is a support network of people that keep you going.

I remember Louis van Gaal wearing a tie for every press conference. It must have left an impression because I like to look smart even if I get a bit of stick.

I had a fantastic time at Fulham, I'm very, very proud to lead the club, I have nothing but admiration.

There is always going to be a point where your form becomes patchy and it's down to how long it lasts really.

When you're dealing with 25 men, all with different needs, some with egos, you need to manage that. If you can manage that group you get the best out of them.