Athlete

I know my own mistakes; I know when I have to do better.

Under Pep Guardiola, it's hard work. For me, Guardiola is one of the best coaches I've ever met. He's incredibly clever and tactically really good, and he knows how to speak to us, how to motivate us, and that's what it is like.

It's difficult to leave FC Bayern. Everything has to fall in place to top this club if I do it.

You don't get anywhere without hard work. The earlier you understand that, the better.

Over the years, you get better at timing because you've been through the situations thousands of times. The ball goes over your head; he passes you on the right, left. Eventually, you just know what you have to do.

I like to play against strikers and think that, from my size alone, I'm more of a central defender.

You mostly defend with your head, always reacting to the movement of opponents and teammates. I had to become more aware of that, play with much more consideration, the way you drive a car: you always need to look left, right, and the rear mirror to see what's going on around you.

You meet somebody on a bus or something, and they say, 'Thank you for the World Cup; it was so good to see,' and stuff like this - it's funny.

My motivation is that I try to get myself to a certain point, and I want to win as much as I can in my career.

I wanted to set new goals, because if you say, 'Oh, I'm world champion,' you don't grow, and you don't keep your level.

When you get a little bit older, you're always trying to do something different from your siblings.

It was especially tough following my shoulder injury. I was able to play again after three months out, but it wasn't the same Boateng. I had the feeling I was in another body.

It is not a normal game when you play against your brother.

I didn't think every day, 'I'm world champion, I'm world champion,' not at all.

I have always liked wearing clothes that help me stand out quietly, not loudly.

In football, you can never know what happens in the future.

Of course every manager has a different mentality, different philosophy.

I'm very happy at Bayern.

I have to open the game from my position. It's really important to play with the ball.

If a player has jewelry or a cool car, people in Germany are instantly jealous.