Athlete

At first sight, Shane Long is just a short striker, but he's good in the air; he's quick, very dangerous, has good feet, and scores goals.

I've never been a hero at gymnastics.

I have the biggest respect for Petr Cech. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, so I think putting him and me in the same team is not the healthiest thing in the world.

You see it everywhere in football: when results are not there, then the first guy who has to go is the manager. It's not always the managers; sometimes it's also the players who we have to blame.

As soon as you make a mistake, you're killed by the press.

To be on the bench is not the nicest thing.

With what I've already achieved in my career - winning trophies and playing in finals, important matches against Real Madrid and Barcelona, winning the Europa League and the Super Cup, and in the Champions League - sometimes you've earned the right to say something.

For goalkeepers, the better years, they say, come from the age of 27 or 28.

Rumours affect any club where things are going badly.

Everybody wants to play in Europe, and if you're in the rhythm of playing a game every three or four days, sometimes you can play better, even though it's harder at the end of the season.

I wish Atleti the best.

Nobody is guaranteed to be a starter; thinking that would be a mistake.

Some players are more concentrated on what they will do after their football career and want to make sure their lives are financially settled. I prefer to play in big teams earn a little less money and win trophies.

My first days in London were not easy.

Winning a trophy would be a good way to finish a bad season in a positive way. But I'm not obsessed by the fact I have to win a trophy every year - it's a nice thing, but I know it's sometimes impossible.

It is a childhood dream to be in the World Cup.

I think a goalkeeper has to participate at the back of the defence and come off the line to play.

A lot of things the press say are nonsense.

You want to win everything that's possible, starting with the League Cup.

If you excel, there will always be teams interested in signing the biggest players.