Quotes from Manuel Neuer

I used to cry when I let in a goal. I always thought I was to blame because I was the last man.

In Germany, Jens Lehmann was a model style for a German goalkeeper.

As a goalkeeper, you like to be called upon.

First of all, I am and I remain a goalkeeper, but I try to be involved as much as I can and to help the defenders. I try to read dangerous situations in advance.

If I think I will get the ball, I go out. I can't stop halfway because the goal is empty and the player would have the opportunity to shoot. You make the reaction, and then, of course, you have to be sure to get the ball. But it's years of practice. You can't say from one day to the other, 'Now I will do it,' you know? You have to feel it.

Schalke are my club. I used to stand on the terraces as a fan, and I've realised my dream of making it as a pro right here at my club.

It's a great thing to play a final in your capital city.

It's obvious you always have to give everything in order to succeed. That's why playing at 80 per cent isn't enough - not against a 'normal' Bundesliga team. You always have to work hard.

With Bayern, we want a lot of ball possession and to control the play, so I operate sometimes like the 11th outfield player. Thus I am included a lot into the build-up play and have a lot of touches of the ball.

I do not like the red carpet; I prefer the green pitch.

I am convinced by my style of play, so I take risks without much hesitation.

I always want to play at the highest level; that's the Champions League.

I love playing football every day. I love working hard, I love training, I love the games; I love the challenge. As long as that still applies, I don't see any reason to call time on something that makes me so happy.

You cannot compare warm-ups with World Cup games.

At Bayern, I was used to coming out of my box to try and clear up dangerous situations. The World Cup was just another platform, so it gave other people the chance to see me who don't watch German football.

For me, it's more important to win a team award, like a World Cup.

I want to win lots of titles.

A fit player has good and bad times during a season, and you have that in rehab, too.

I have a good record in shoot-outs. In such moments, I'm always confident of making at least a couple of stops; I always feel the taker is under more strain. Worrying is the kicker's job, as he's expected to score, while I have nothing to lose.

The goalkeeper always starts again at nil, even when you're 2-0 down. It always starts again at scratch. It's a completely mental thing, and I keep reminding myself of it during matches.

It's difficult to say you can replace Franck Ribery one on one with another player.

As for being the best goalkeeper in the world, it's been written occasionally, but I'd never say it myself.

I've trained under a lot of coaches and always picked up elements that develop a player.

The coach put me in goal, and back then, we were playing on bone-hard ground: red ash; we even trained on black ash, which was worse. That's not easy for a goalkeeper. My mother was always taking out her sewing kit for the countless holes in my training pants. For a long time, I had to buy my own gear.