Top 33 Daniel Sturridge Quotes

They wanted to play me central midfield when I was at Aston Villa, so that’s why we left. Things were going good at Coventry, but then scouts from Manchester United and different clubs around England were watching me, and I don’t think Coventry liked that.

It’s important to be courteous; it has to be. I was raised very well by my parents, so it’s about being polite and courteous.

My family prayed a lot, but we didn’t really go to church. On Sunday, my mum and dad used to always tell me to read the Bible. That was important for me growing up, and I still do that every morning. It’s something that is part of my routine, and I do it every day, whether it’s a normal game or a big one.

As a footballer, you’re stuck in a uniform – either in team kit or a team suit. I don’t really get to show my personality in my job, so style is a chance to show people part of me they don’t often see.

I watch all my goals before every game on the coach.

I think it’s important to play. I don’t think the manager needs to give you a confidence booster and say, ‘You’re my main man; you’re the best.’ Everyone wants to play.

I always pray. I’m quite religious. I’ve had the beads since I can remember.

My dad’s view about coaching was that you have to express yourself. When I was young at academies, I wasn’t allowed to do that.

I’m an open book. I speak to people all the time and generally have a smile on my face. I’m true to who I am, so you can never always smile and be happy.

My dad was a professional footballer before I was alive. When I was growing up, he was the one who coached and mentored me and helped me to become what I am today. Without his coaching and without his insight and the days and the hours that he put in with me, I wouldn’t be the player that I am today.

For me, that was a defining moment in my career, being at Chelsea, going through what has made me become a man in terms of my career. Even playing on the right wing helped my right foot, making me use it more, making me improve.

At the World Cup, I carried my mum’s Caribbean sauce around with me. She makes her own, and I brought it to Brazil – I needed to have it there. We’re very down-to-earth; it’s the nature of my family. We came from nothing.

I grew up in Hockley, Birmingham. It was an environment I’ll never forget in terms of playing football on local pitches, kicking a ball around in the front garden and all over the house. It was a positive place to live, and somewhere, that gave me the right grounding for where I am today.

I’m a very humble and normal person, and I just go out there and do the job the best that I can do it.

I watch the goals to get me in the mood and to give myself a vision of how I want the game to go.

As a youngster, that’s how it was: you tried to express yourself out on the pitch as much as you can. Maybe I stopped trying things when I got into the first team, but now I’m more comfortable and doing things off the cuff again.

My parents were very protective of me. Hockley had some crime, so my mum didn’t want me out there, and my dad was the same. I would have to be in at a certain time, as there was a lot of violence surrounding our area.

For me, personally, I think the serious gamers – the guys who know the levels – play Xbox, and people who are just good at the game play PS3. I play PS3 because I’m not a serious, serious gamer like that. But when I play the Xbox, the standard is so much higher.

I’d be the best player on the day because I believe in myself and my abilities.

Every man needs a good pair of jeans. It’s the ultimate wardrobe staple because most of us wear them more than anything else.

My job is to go on the pitch and put my best foot forward.

People think I got loads of money at City and then left for Chelsea to chase more money. I didn’t get that money. I moved to Chelsea because they made promises to me. They told me I would get opportunities, I would play and that they believed in me as a young player.

Everyone is entitled to their opinions, and I feel like everyone judges people: regardless of whether they know someone or not, they have an opinion based on the persona of the person. I guess you can only have a real opinion of who they are as a person once you meet someone.

It’s not easy anywhere in the world for a young player to get opportunities at a big club.

In the past, I’d felt I didn’t want to try something because I might get shot down for it. I’d tried it with England, and the goalkeeper – I think it was against Poland – saved it. This time, it came off.

There is an expectation that if you do sport, any sport, you should never have a life outside that. People expect you to just train, play, train. But that’s not me.

It’s good to have a game like ‘Call Of Duty’ because it’s really competitive, and everybody wants to be the best at it.

It’s easy to become complacent when you are earning decent money as a young player. It’s important to understand that there is a lot to achieve, and there is a long way to go before you are where you actually want to be.

I think the stereotype about footballers being badly dressed is unfair.

I feel like, in football, you always have to prove yourself as well. The past is in the past. Last season was last season.

I think Kanye West is – people don’t give him the credit he deserves for what he has brought to our generation.

As a young player, I think it’s important to have people who talk to you.

I like to feel comfortable in what I’m wearing, so I do wear a lot of sportswear. Not football training stuff, but mostly casual tracksuits and T-shirts.