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I'm a very private person, and you have a lot of people looking into your personal life, away from football. That's the one thing that I don't like, but I always remember how lucky we are that we're playing football.

You cannot just switch football on and off; it's intense. There were times when I probably shouldn't have got involved in certain things and said certain things, but you feel that sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe. Maybe the supporters looked to me to stand up as well.

There is only one thing I want to do here, and that is play football to the best of my ability. If I let things start distracting me, I'm not going to be able to do that, which will jeopardise the team as well.

If you were ever to interview me after a football game or at a football game or around me during football season is totally different than when you catch me away from football.

I play football, and most football players are camera shy. We just want to be left alone; we just want to stick to what we do.

I don't have a lot to share with other men. My heart sinks when I get into a taxi and someone starts talking to me about football.

I know without our fans and the devotion of our fans we wouldn't be here. I don't mean to put them down, but I'm just stating a fact that it is hard to play to people that see you all the time and it takes a lot of fun out of it in some ways.

Outside football, I just love life, you know. We're lucky to play football, to have all this body. Everyone's watching us. You see how many people, they come and watch the game. It's unbelievable, you see how many people they come. They shout your name and just enjoy life.

If the fans want me out, I'll put my hands up and leave. Like a proper man. I won't make excuses, I'll leave.

We're sympathetic, but once you step on the field, football's football.