Gareth Barry Quotes

I started out as a defender. I played as a full-back, and then I moved into the centre. I played defence right the way through until the Under-18s. Honestly!

I played at White Hart Lane against Michael Carrick and Edgar Davids when I was 18.

When I first arrived at Napoli, I was the ball boy, which meant that I got to watch as the legends trained. Then, once I joined the youth team as a young teenager, I was a midfielder just like Tardelli.

I've always been a centre-half, to be honest.

When you're growing up and thinking about being a footballer, you want to make as many caps and play as many games as you can.

When I was at Doncaster Rovers Belles, I used to play up front or as a number 10, but when I joined Chelsea in 2015, I was more a midfielder, and over the last few years, I've moved into the back four.

I was 14 when I arrived at Real Sociedad. No team wanted me in France. I trialled for around eight clubs, and then Real came.

One day I won't play for Barcelona. I'll go and play somewhere else, and I'm sure I'll do so as a central midfielder. That's what I'll try to do because it's the position I like.

Trequartista is an important position in the team.

I think the first time I had to play at left-back was at Manchester United in the Europa League.

Generally speaking, I think that Frank Lampard is one of the best players in international football.

Arsenal have always been one of the best clubs in the world, so to even be a part of the club from a young age I've always had to give my best.

I started out at youth level as a holding midfielder.

The Champions League is massive. I've had so much experience. I'm only 23, and yet I've played so much in the Champions League, and not many players my age would have had that experience.

Des Bulpin discovered me and, along with my dad, would be the biggest influence on my career. I remember him telling me when I was 15 that Jermain Defoe and I would play together for England when we were older, and he hasn't been too far wrong.

I've played at centre-half plenty of times before.

At the Barcelona youth academy, I lived right next to Camp Nou, but I spent my days watching movies.

Switching from left-winger to left-back was not as difficult as you might imagine because I have played there many times before for the national team and also for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

I began my journey as a 16-year-old boy at the Arsenal's academy, trying to one day become a first team player, going out for evening runs in East Barnet with Jack Wilshere.

I like centre-half, but I can play centre-mid as well.

My favourite position is as midfielder, playing with Xabi and Khedira.

To be honest, from England Under-16s, through the 17s and 18s, really all the way through my youth career, I played at centre-half. For some reason, when I made my debut at Everton, I just played in central midfield, and it went from there.

It was a coach called Adailton Ladeira who first asked me to play as left-back in 1988. I was a left-winger, but our left-back was injured at Uniao Sao Joao, my first club, and he asked me to fill in. I said 'no problem,' and I've played there ever since.

It is very nice Kasper has now also won the Premier League, too. I am very proud; I think he has done a fantastic job. It has been amazing to bring this lad into the world and bring him up and hear his wishes and hopes for the future, his ambitions; he made it fairly clear early on that he wanted to become a footballer.

Xavi playing 750 games for Barcelona is a lot.