Quotes from Michael Ballack

I like Daniel Sturridge a lot after playing with him at Chelsea.

Everybody has to play for their team and accept his role, even if you are in a defensive position sometimes. That is the key if you want to have success.

When you're young it's football, football, football. Then you get a family, kids come into things and you find you have a broader view of life. You get your inspiration from many different places.

It's always disappointing to lose a final.

I can imagine finishing my career at Chelsea.

In training, for example, when you feel your position on the team is in danger then you have to be fully focused.

I was able to turn my hobby into my profession, and I am thankful for that. But I have other interests beside football, and I can devote my time to them now.

Germany is a nation which must always win.

I wanted to go outside of Germany and I saw English football as a big, big challenge.

As soon as I knew I was leaving Chelsea, our first thought was to return to Germany.

If you are a top player in England, the cult around you is bigger than in Germany.

There must be some tensions in a team, which you can't always wipe away or smooth over.

I played in the Champions League constantly for 12 or 13 years in my career, and I reached only two finals. I know how difficult it is to get to that point.

When I see Mario Gotze, his development does not go in the right direction. He has outstanding qualities, but he has not reached his potential for whatever reason. His charisma is not so good, fellow players, coaches, fans and the media do not feel that he is fighting against his current situation. He's more an introvert player.

Sometimes you can lose games unluckily or the other team is better than you and has a great day as well. That can happen in football.

Mario Gotze is a great player, but one of my favourites is Marco Reus, who is a fantastic player, and one of the very best.

The main reason to come to England and Chelsea was to play with a great team. Money and the chance to live in a city like London are additional factors.

At 36 years old I can look back on a long and wonderful time in professional football, which I could never have dreamed of as a child.

Football is not always harmonious.

If too much harmony dominates, then aggression can get lost.

I played at the highest level throughout my career and I'm happy about that.

For 17 years, I played at the highest level.

Chelsea is an ambitious club and it will always be possible that a coach and the players are competitive at the highest level.

Of course Lothar Matthaus is always going to be associated with the 1990 World Cup. But does everyone immediately remember what titles Gunter Netzer, Johan Cruyff or Luis Figo won? Or do they also think about how those players played their football and how they led their teams?