Ilkay Gundogan Quotes

"Everyone has his or her own opinion and I always welcome criticism. That's why we have freedom of expression and that's also what I stand for - but I won't stand for insults."

"I speak German, Turkish and English perfectly. And I can communicate in Russian."

"If I don't get out of my comfort zone, I will never change and never improve."

"I see myself as a mix between number six and number eight in central midfield - this is the best position for me, as a box-to-box midfielder."

"My parents wanted me to have a good education, so I finished school, and at the same time I was able to play football."

"We always feel when we're able to score the first goal or an early goal, we feel like we are unstoppable."

"When I am 32, 33 and I realise that I can't keep my level or it is dropping, it will be a stop abroad where you might not play at the highest level and not keep up with Premier League."

"The Premier League is the best league in the world in my opinion."

"Of course, in the end it is all about what happens on the pitch, but it helps to have all the fans behind you."

"I take care of who I am and what I do, treating people in the nicest way possible and everything comes back in life."

"Taffarel was also outstanding when Galatasaray won the UEFA Cup in 2000. I watched the games of 'Gala' a lot in my childhood."

"I believe in life's challenges and I always try to challenge myself."

"I feel privileged to have grown up in Germany so it was a heavy blow for me to be portrayed as somebody who isn't integrated and who doesn't live his life according to German values."

"In a World Cup every single game is important; you are not allowed to make mistakes, not allowed to fail. If you want to win, you have to be there every game."

"To be honest, I'm not really into politics."

"I have had almost only positive experiences in Germany. I want to be very clear about that."

"I am still a big fan of Jogi Low, and not just in terms of the sporting side of things. This applies to his character, his leadership qualities and his humanity."

"I had four great years with Jurgen and I like him as a person and as a coach."

"I wanted to leave Dortmund in Dortmund and not think about spending time with Jurgen when I chose a new club. That was partly a reason for me not to go to Liverpool."

"Cristiano Ronaldo is the world class player after Messi, but for me he is not on this Galactico level of Messi."

"I do not want people to forget me."

"That is the most difficult thing: to feel that you are useless, not worth as much as before, not worth as much as the others."

"Rehab is always up and down for the mind and for the body."

"If we are quite defensive and we lose the ball, we just try to get back into our positions and try to defend. That's something you have to do from time to time."

"The Champions League is maybe the most prestigious competition in the game and if you don't win it, as much as we are a great team, you feel like there's always something missing."

"It's important in sport and life, if you do something with confidence you always do it better. That's the same in football and everything else."

"You cannot just win every single game by three, four or five goals and then when you come into the last 16 playing a good team, 1-0 down, expect to turn it around easily. It's not always like that."

"I think struggles are part of our profession. And it's always about overcoming these kind of moments."

"I prefer to get my own picture of people and Pep was the main reason that I moved to City. I am very happy with how things have gone, both personally and in a sporting sense."

"If I'm needed, I'm ready to help the team wherever."