If Messi has the ball, he is fantastic to watch and difficult to stop. You have to double up on him, triple up on him even, stay with him constantly to block his way to the goal. — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
When you step up as a young talent, you need to challenge the old lads. — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
Sometimes you need a humbling experience to think about a few things. — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
We cannot take responsibility for every goal we concede, we all need to do our part across the field to ensure we win as… — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
There are not a lot of German players out there who are successful in a foreign country. — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
I've never had that dream in my head: 'I want to play Bundesliga or Premier League.' I was a fan, but it was never… — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
My father said, 'You're not going to make it.' That took a lot of pressure from me. I took football like a hobby. — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
I had a totally different upbringing, totally different background, raised in Germany, small town, now I am in London taking care of 180 kids… — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
You spend some time with kids, you always take something with you. — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
Obviously, everyone looks at whether we bring young footballers into the first team, that's one of the goals. But I wouldn't discard someone who… — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
I never heard anything about 'potatoes' or 'kanaken' during my time in the national team. However I have been called 'potato,' too. — Per Mertesacker Copy Share Image
