I couldn't really tell if it was a different childhood because I was used to it, it was kind of normal to me. The only time I remember it felt a bit odd was when I went to other people's houses and they were calling people 'dad.' I wouldn't get that. But my uncle, who also lived with me, was a father figure.

I won't eat past when I'm full. I think that's the problem some people have, they like a dish so much that they'll eat until it's completely gone and feel sick after. Me, if I feel full, ready, comfortable, I'll stop.

For me, I can't eat healthy 100 percent of the year. There's obviously those little times where you have to eat something that's not great for you, but you just need comfort food.

Seattle is the place where you can really find any kind of food, especially Japanese food.

I try not to snack, but my family, we're all big snackers. So I try to keep healthy snacks around, like Nutri-Grain bars, pistachios, that sort of thing. But you're always going to cheat a little bit.

I try to value every day, every training session, every game.

I'm able to travel all over the world to play and do something that I love. That's not something that a lot of people get to do.

In the midfield, I'm not the most comfortable playing with my back to the goal, and in the midfield you find that ball a lot.

I'm fine with just a simple life.

Living in London and having a lavish lifestyle, it's not that important to me.

In England, especially, mentally if you're not strong it can eat you up. There's the media, all the negativity surrounding footballers. If you're not mentally strong, it can eat you.

If you're not fully happy doing one thing, you try to do find another thing to take your mind from it.

A lot of people ask me what has been the biggest change with me being in England and a lot of people expect me to say something related to football, but mostly it's just growing up and becoming a man.

When you face any adversity in life those are the kind of lessons you can take and remember. Those are the things that are going to help me not just in football but in life, which is priceless.

Every manager has different opinions and all you can do as a player is try to fight and get your spot back, or at least earn your manager's trust back to try and get your spot back. There's no use sulking about it, you just get on with it and try to raise your game to get back to the level you need to be when you were starting.

As a manager you're going to put out the player you think is going to best help you win the game.

It's good to defend a player that's as fast as me because I have to learn.

When I was younger if I was in someone else's shoes, if you saw a professional athlete you'd want to go up and introduce yourself and ask a couple questions, so I definitely know where they're coming from.

For me, I like interacting with Sounders fans. Some guys with their time off they want their time off, but I don't mind it.

That's the No. 1 thing you need to have, to believe you can win.

I think in some ways it makes me feel uncomfortable, just getting a bunch of attention. I'd rather just stay chill and kind of lay low.

Even when my grandparents compliment me, I don't like when they do that.

First and foremost my obligation is on the defensive side. But obviously there are times when I need to go and attack, too.

I feel like I've improved immensely in terms of my defending, not only in one-versus-ones but also with my positioning.