Ronaldo, the Brazilian one - incredible player. I met him once. I was in Ibiza on holiday and quite by chance ran into him in a club. He's the only man I'd go up to and ask for a picture. And I did.

During the Sir Alex Ferguson years, you would see all those great players - Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo, to name just a few - and you'd quickly realise why Old Trafford had an aura like nowhere else.

For whatever reason, I have got a few goals against Arsenal, so I do enjoy playing against them.

I'll have an omelette, porridge, and fruit for breakfast at the training ground, then chicken, pasta and soup for lunch; then I can relax in the evening.

Nothing ever stays the same for very long in my life.

When I was young, I always enjoyed watching skilful players and trying to emulate them the same as everyone else.

Everyone that I have taken the mick out of, or told a story about, is someone I know properly or someone who has been a team-mate, and I know can take it. I am not stitching anyone up.

Nothing can prepare you fully for how harsh football fans can be, but it makes you more robust, able to deal with a lot of what is thrown at you in life.

I've always been the tallest; I didn't shoot up. That's who I am.

The kit man is the heartbeat of the football club, really. He knows the lads. He's usually local, a fan, and he's got his finger on the pulse of the dressing room.

If I played badly as a kid, my dad would tell me, and my mum would say, 'You were brilliant today'. It's nice to have both: when I need a bit of confidence, I'll see her, and if I need to hear it straight, I'll see my dad.

One thing that annoys me in football is when people get carried away by results after four or five weeks of a new season.

Spending time in Sweden on loan was one of the best things I ever did.

I once bought an ill-advised half cashmere, half camel hair jumper for £800, then ruined it by spilling a pint of Guinness all over it.

I feel proud I was part of the old school and still around in the new school.

Sometimes as a player you have a different view and you can't believe what we did as a defensive unit.

As long as you are winning it is a good day.

I was with Bremen in a good situation in the Bundesliga. I was the captain and was involved in everything to do with the club.

There are not a lot of German players out there who are successful in a foreign country.

Playing at the highest level really is something special for me.

Arsene Wenger is a coach who has a very special personality. He has an experience that not many coaches have, and all at one club, at Arsenal.

We cannot take responsibility for every goal we concede, we all need to do our part across the field to ensure we win as a team.

Goals often come from a mistake much further up the field, yet the analysis and blame will always be on the defence.

Moving to London enables me to fulfil a dream and a further step in my career. The Premier League has always represented a great challenge for me.