Patrick van Aanholt

“I have been at Chelsea for a lot of years. I have played in the Premier League, the Champions League, it is a kid's dream to play for Chelsea. I have moved on, who knows I might one day go back to Chelsea.”

“I could have stayed at Chelsea, signed a new contract, but I chose to go different ways.”

“I saw Ashley train every day and I said, 'This is what I want but better.' That was my motivation. He taught me the game, how to play nicely and sometimes dirty, all those kind of things. But I didn't become Ashley Cole. I'm Patrick van Aanholt.”

“I would play until my mum called me. I would just stay out playing football, every day.”

“Of course you want to play for your country.”

“Yeah, I always want to play against the best.”

“I've always played left-back and I'm an established defender so that is the focus for me in games.”

“I did not enjoy David Moyes' training sessions. Eventually I lost my love for the game and went into the dressing-room feeling annoyed every day.”

“It feels fantastic to score my first goal.”

“Why is racism still a conversation in 2020? We are all one. It hurts me. It upsets me.”

“I've played two years in the Premier League, and I think I've shown everyone what I'm capable of.”

“I wanted to find a club where I can stay a couple of years and try to do well.”

“If you don't have ambitions then you're not a football player.”

“Of course every player has to accept criticism and it has happened to me. But you have got to get back up.”

“I enjoyed my time at Newcastle and it was a very good experience for me to be involved at such a big club.”

“Sunderland is like a family and I'm very happy to be part of it.”

“I have been criticized lots of times but I don't care. It makes me even stronger.”

“Everyone who knows me knows there is nothing wrong with me - and there is nothing wrong with my heart either. Did I get upset and frustrated at the time? Yes, when you read that you have heart problems when people didn't hear the truth from me.”

“I moved to England at a young age so it was different, unlike other Dutch players as I had to get used to a different culture.”