Patrick van Aanholt

“We all want to make a step higher up. I think I've got it in me to play at that level. I played a few games at Chelsea and showed it. That's just having confidence in yourself.”

“It is always good to be linked with big clubs like Juventus. It is a sign that I am in a good way.”

“I am not even worried about the critics.”

“I didn't want to play in the reserves. It was the wrong attitude. I could have trained for myself, so when I got the chance I was ready. I didn't do that. I was just training and going home. That was just a waste of time. That's why Wigan is a closed book.”

“I'm a defender and that's what I will always look to do first. If you do that right then the other things will be easier, but my job is to defend and that's what I'll focus on more than anything.”

“I wanted to be a centre back but I was always stepping over the ball and playing one-twos.”

“Everyone can criticize me. I don't listen to them.”

“Vitesse was my hometown club. They helped me in my career. It was Vitesse who helped me get in to the national team squad in the first place, even if I didn't make the World Cup.”

“I want my children to have a normal life and not face racism and their children's children.”

“I like to go forward, that is my strength.”

“My mum and dad were very strict with me and I am grateful for that because all I wanted to do was play football and I didn't want to go to school.”

“I was 16 and went straight into the reserves. I had to adapt to the language, adapt to a new country, adapt to a style of play, all with new team-mates. All those kind of things were in my head and it was very hard.”

“My family lives in London and my kids go to school in London.”

“When Sunderland turned down an offer for me from Crystal Palace I went to see Moyes in his office three or four times. I was angry. I told him: 'Accept Palace's bid and just let me leave - it is the best thing for all concerned.' But he said that he wanted to keep hold of me.”

“As you grow up you realize more how important the fans are and that without the fans we are basically nothing.”

“A win against the champions is always special.”

“I can defend and attack - I am capable of everything.”

“But I think I made the right move to leave Chelsea behind. They kept sending me on loan to get more experience.”

“Ideally, you want to play games, and you don't want to train every day without the matches.”

“I grew up in a family of six. Four sisters, one brother.”