Quotes from Xabi Alonso

I have improved with time by playing for elite teams in elite leagues and the Champions League and with the Spanish national team in World Cups and European Championships.

At Liverpool, I used to read the match day programme, and you'd read an interview with a lad from the youth team. They'd ask age, heroes, strong points, etc. He'd reply, 'Shooting and tackling.' I can't get into my head that football development would educate tackling as a quality, something to learn, to teach, a characteristic of your play.

Matches in England are special.

If you have control of the midfield, you have control of the game, and you have more chances to win.

Kroos is an excellent player.

I would never have dreamed to have had such a nice career as this. I like football, and this is like a nice football journey.

I prefer not to compare teams because it's not fair at all.

So many times, football is really unfair.

My idea was to stay in Madrid. Then, when I heard of Munich's interest, I said, 'Xabi, think what you want and where you will be happy.'

With Senna, I am not incompatible; I am not incompatible with anyone.

The midfielders are important: they have to offer themselves to receive the ball and make good use of it, take choices, try not to lose the ball and defend. But I don't feel like a leader at all.

I have been lucky enough to be at great clubs, from my hometown club to Liverpool to Real Madrid to Bayern Munich.