Michail Antonio

“A good manager allows you to play with freedom and confidence.”

“As a child growing up, watching England, it was one of those things you always wanted to be involved in.”

“A good manager doesn't put pressure on his players.”

“Players that come from non-league don't ever want to go back there, so they have more fight in them to make sure they don't go back to the 9-5 life and build up a strong career.”

“Racism doesn't affect me. I've realised now that racism is down to the person doing it. It doesn't affect my life.”

“Players should be picked on form, not reputation.”

“I've been on and off with West Ham, I've had some good seasons and some not.”

“Playing in non-League gave me the resilience. I learned everything there. You needed to fight off hard tackles and I was playing against big men. You learn how to be strong and take them on and learn resilience.”

“I always believed I was a Premier League player, but in the first few months when I wasn't getting a game I started to doubt whether I was good enough. Everyone kept on telling me: 'Wait for your opportunity and make sure that you take it' - and that's what I did.”

“The players, we just got to believe in ourselves.”

“I want to always be better and make my career last as long as possible.”

“Life is a results game. You turn up late for work four or five times, you get sacked. It's doing the right things and that's one thing I've learned about life. Everything is about results.”

“It's good to have the option to have someone else who can come in and play in different positions.”

“Obviously scoring goals in pre-season is good to help you bring it into the season, but the most important thing is doing it in the Premier League, doing it in the Europa League and doing it when it actually matters.”

“The way I play, some managers are going to like me, some managers are not going to like me.”

“I was planning on becoming a teacher. I didn't become professional until I was 17, nearly 18, so I was going to college - I picked universities and everything - and I was planning on becoming a PE teacher.”

“For me to become a professional footballer, determination was key, on and off the pitch.”

“I'm just trying to play my football right now and whatever happens, happens.”

“I had trials with QPR where I won all the running drills and after playing a match, I was told that whatever I did would determine if I got scouted. I scored and assisted one, only to be told I didn't put enough crosses in. So I didn't get signed.”

“You calling me anything doesn't affect my life. I'm still going to go home and give my Mrs a kiss, give my kids a cuddle.”