Chris Smalling

“I was playing regularly for United up to when I left.”

“I guess football is a game of opinions.”

“You do see very few English players going abroad and those that do are largely good players otherwise they wouldn't have gone, but I feel a lot of their downfall is in the language. On the pitch you can learn the different basics of 'left,' 'right' and 'behind you' but off the pitch you want to have that influence around the team.”

“You can't rest on six months of good performances because as soon as you have a blip, there is always another player to take your place.”

“I would have gone to Loughborough to study business management and was looking forward to that very much.”

“When you come to Manchester United, in every transfer window - whether the team is doing well or badly - there are always players linked with the club because this club is always linked with the best players.”

“People might think it's all about getting up for a game but it's often the opposite.”

“Obviously with a knee injury there are certain protocols that need to happen.”

“Van Gaal is receptive to other people's ideas.”

“Hopefully I can take my chances when I get them.”

“Anyone who wants to be a centre-half would have to say that John Terry is a role model. Every centre-half in the game would agree with that. It is the way he leads the team and the way he reads the game.”

“You can't have two or three games where you let your level drop.”

“When you have come from the bottom and worked your way to the top, you are more grateful.”

“Throughout my career I have developed a thick skin against verbal abuse, justifying it as just 'part of the game' but the time has come for Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to consider regulating their channels, taking responsibility for protecting the mental health of users regardless of age, race, sex or income.”

“It doesn't matter whether it's the 93rd minute, Giggsy is making his jinky, mazy little runs. You could forgive him for maybe not coming out training every day, because he's done so much in the game, but every day he's out there. He doesn't seem to need a rest.”

“I liked Thierry Henry. I watched Arsenal so much on TV.”

“It's nice when you can have that battle on the pitch and then there's respect after the game because, ultimately, you are just trying to do your best.”

“We take more risks at United than the majority of teams but the manager wants us to play.”

“You can put too much pressure on yourself. You can start forcing balls, maybe trying too hard. You make things too complicated.”

“I have a collage of pictures of my dad holding my brother and me. I look at that before every game just to remind me about having no fear or regrets and to go out and enjoy the moment, because I know how precious life is.”