Per Mertesacker

When you step up as a young talent, you need to challenge the old lads.

— Per Mertesacker

Sometimes you need a humbling experience to think about a few things.

— Per Mertesacker

We cannot take responsibility for every goal we concede, we all need to do our part across the field to ensure we…

— Per Mertesacker

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

— Per Mertesacker

I've never had that dream in my head: 'I want to play Bundesliga or Premier League.' I was a fan, but it…

— Per Mertesacker

I invested a lot in my fitness.

— Per Mertesacker

My father said, 'You're not going to make it.' That took a lot of pressure from me. I took football like a…

— Per Mertesacker

I had a totally different upbringing, totally different background, raised in Germany, small town, now I am in London taking care of…

— Per Mertesacker

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

— Per Mertesacker

You spend some time with kids, you always take something with you.

— Per Mertesacker

Obviously, everyone looks at whether we bring young footballers into the first team, that's one of the goals. But I wouldn't discard…

— Per Mertesacker

I never heard anything about 'potatoes' or 'kanaken' during my time in the national team. However I have been called 'potato,' too.

— Per Mertesacker

Wenger has won three Premier League titles, which is proof enough of his standing as a manager.

— Per Mertesacker

I think it is so beneficial to English and British football when youngsters see different cultures and environments.

— Per Mertesacker

I was lucky to get a professional contract. I wasn't that sort of talent that is considered to be a professional player.

— Per Mertesacker

I had a great time at SV Werder Bremen and I'm grateful to the club.

— Per Mertesacker

I want to show on the training pitch that I am ready whenever the manager needs me.

— Per Mertesacker

Arsene Wenger was always the kind of manager whose belief in his team's qualities was steady as a rock and who approached…

— Per Mertesacker

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

— Per Mertesacker

When I played for Hannover I had several offers, also - as I have been told - from Hamburg, Bremen and Bayern.…

— Per Mertesacker

Of course I have an advantage with my size on set pieces.

— Per Mertesacker

For a national player it is a good thing to get experience playing abroad.

— Per Mertesacker

Youngsters need self-esteem, simple targets in life which give energy. In the academy they can be so easily distracted by so many…

— Per Mertesacker

I don't see myself coaching because the intensity of that is massive, and the intensity as a manager, for example Arsene Wenger,…

— Per Mertesacker

Talent is what you make of your situation.

— Per Mertesacker