Juan Mata

“Football is not about money but emotions.”

“For me, football is what I love to do most. It is also the thing I'm better doing than anything else.”

“Football is losing its essence: people talk about celebrations instead of goals.”

“I live in a bubble. Real life is the one my friends live. They've had to look for work, sign on to the dole, and emigrate. That's normal life now. My life as a footballer is not normal.”

“You have to feel free enough to do what your body is telling you to do. Sometimes, though, the pressure of winning and the fear of defeat limit your performance.”

“For me, good football is not about how many skills you show or how many players you beat. It's about making the right decision every time you have the ball.”

“Everything depends on the club more than the player: the quantities, the paperwork.”

“I think every footballer, after 20 years playing football, the first thing that comes to your mind is to relax.”

“I'm a professional. I have to do my best.”

“Winning the World Cup is something that will always be inside your mind and inside your body.”

“I cannot control what people think. But I can control myself and my aim, and my head is focused on trying to win trophies.”

“Everything I do is about improvement.”

“When I signed for Valencia, it wasn't the best moment of my football career because in the beginning, I was not playing a lot. But I remained calm, and I knew that if I trained well and played as I know, I'm sure I can get a place in the first XI.”

“A win doesn't last too long, and it happens the same way with a defeat. You have the chance to make it up soon afterwards.”

“One of the best things if you are a football player is to see the faces of the kids, when they see you and are dreaming of being like you one day. That's a big responsibility, to be a good image for those kids. A football player is more than just a football player.”

“I've been in England for a while, but it's true that at times you miss home, your family, your friends.”

“I just want to be playing! I love to play. But I think I can play in the three positions behind the striker.”

“I am thrilled to be joining United. I have enjoyed some very happy years at Chelsea, but the time has come for a new challenge.”

“My adaptation on the pitch has gone in parallel with my adaptation to London.”

“Football's incomparable to anything else - perhaps only music has that same power to transform society.”