Quotes About Motivation

You are all mates off the pitch, but on it, you are all competing for places. I think that only makes a healthier squad - more players fighting for positions can only mean everyone has got to step their game up.

What matters is getting the best out of the squad you have.

I just hope I can give positive energy to the squad.

I need to always improve and that is why I work hard to try and keep my place in the squad.

I'm really happy to be working with Jose Mourinho. He's a great person and he's always keen to communicate with the squad and help people to be communicative regarding what they're to do on the pitch.

I've always got that determination, to get back in the squad and get back playing.

The more you play, the more you feel part of the squad, and then, in turn, you end up playing better. I think it's a psychological gap as well - if you don't think you're a first-team player, then you won't be.

No one can take their place or their England shirt for granted. If I want to be in that squad, I need to keep banging in the goals to make sure I stay in the manager's plans.

Healthy competition is always good for us. It helps the squad as well with the depth.

I am not obsessed, but it is natural that doing well for PSG is the only way I can push back into the squad.

I think public criticism of players can go one of two ways: either the players will want to raise a proverbial middle finger at their manager and prove them wrong, or the squad will go within themselves and performances will deteriorate.

I like to have fewer players. That way, everyone is plugged into what you're doing. There is a risk attached to that sometimes but it's good to have a smaller squad. People have more chance of playing; they're ready and more motivated. Having 18 real players is better than having 25 or 26 not playing.

Our fans can push our squad, even if they were not happy with the last match, and create a strong atmosphere.

You need to make sure you have a squad of players who are happy and coming on to do their best for you.

If you can do a squat and a pushup, you can build up to becoming a fitness guru.

I want to squeeze every drop out of my potential as far as affecting the world around me.

I'll exercise in spurts, usually inspired by a dress that I have to fit into. But once that gown is squeezed into, if I continue to exercise, I get sick or I pull my back. For some reason my body literally rejects exercise.

That's what pushes me every day to want to be successful on the soccer field - being able to not only take care of my kid on a financial level and be stable but, most importantly, to inspire my child.

I think the most important is to remain as stable and consistent as possible in terms of emotions, because when you're working, if you work well, you're always rewarded at some point.

In fights when I've had the odds stacked against me, I definitely perform better because it's like a challenge to me - and I always like a challenge.

I know when it's getting close to game time, I create a different playlist for each and every game. Before the game, to game time, to warm-ups, going to the stadium, I have a different playlist that puts me in a different mode.

It's great to see that there are Dortmund fans in every stadium. That is something that motivates you, and in the end, you look forward to games even more, especially Europa League or Champions League away matches, when you see how many fans follow us. It is something very special.

It's a massive difference when you play in front of full stadiums; you can sense the buzz around the players, and it helps us get that extra one or two per cent that may be the difference in games.

You look at the staff, the whole staff, from the security to the nutritionists, everybody. Everybody's happy. They want to be there. They look like they want to be in the UFC.