Top 55 Gareth Barry Quotes

I treat the young boys as I wanted to be treated when I came through at Aston Villa.

In my head, I felt if I’d stayed at City and got a chance, I could have done a good job. It was made clear that wasn’t going to happen, though.

If you win games, you think things are comfortable, and they are not. The best players don’t think that way, and that’s why they get to where they are: they don’t worry about what has gone on and think only about the next game.

I’m not one to plan, but I’m always positive about things.

I think playing international football burns players out, but I was in and out of the England squad so never felt that.

Everton fans don’t just come to watch the football. They are there for Everton, the club. They really believe in the history of the club.

The pressures on younger players now are greater. You’ve just got to be on your toes all the time with social media and stuff. Now you just go to fill your car up, and there will be somebody wanting to film you trying to do something silly like that.

You learn from being out of the team, but it makes you desperate for another chance, and when it comes along, you just have to grab it. Don’t let go.

Everyone’s expecting you to be playing fantastic football, winning every game, and course it doesn’t happen like that.

If players know their role, it is easier to keep to them.

It’s a fantastic life I’ve been living – let’s keep it going.

David Silva at Man City was my favourite player to play with; we had a good understanding on the pitch.

I feel very lucky that I’m left-footed because the number of us around is very small.

You do hear a lot about ‘player power,’ but I’m one of those who believes the manager is there to take control, to be in charge.

You don’t see too many attacking flair players continuing until their mid-30s at a high level.

It’s why the Premier League is watched so much all over the world: because it has more pace and more physicality than in any other league.

While I could still play in the Premier League, I really did not want to go abroad. I was not thinking about winding down my career.

I used to say I preferred midfield because I enjoy trying to make goals, and scoring is a buzz.

I’ve got three brothers and two sisters. Dad was a plumber who worked really hard to support six children, and Mum was busy at home. The four brothers shared a room, a bunk bed on each side. It wasn’t luxurious.

I have played a lot of games, had a good international career, and picked up a lot of caps, but it is not going to be complete without winning trophies, so that is my main goal.

Any great club needs the mentality to go on and achieve things – it is what clubs like United have.

I’ve been in the Premier League for 10 years, more, and the money I’ve been paid is phenomenal compared to your average, everyday working man.

In 2012, we had just won the league with City, and I was really high on confidence going into the Euros when I picked up an injury, which meant I couldn’t go.

I made my mind up that I want to continue playing as long as I can.

I started my career in an era when footballers were different. There was a different culture.

Any crowd that gets on your back makes it difficult, but you are going to get that if things aren’t going well. The fans have got their right to give their opinion.

The main reason I have joined Everton is not to try to help my England ambitions – that will come if I am playing consistently well for Everton.

Nobody likes to lose 3-0.

When somebody tells you they don’t think you’re good enough here, your face doesn’t fit, you don’t just roll over; you’ve got to back yourself.

Martin O’Neill has definitely got the best out of me.

For a young player, it’s important to have people around you other than yourself. You’re immature as an 18- or 19-year-old.

It has felt like the World Cup was never going to come for me.

I feel at Manchester City I will get the chance to play regularly in my best position and play a big part in a successful side.

My upbringing wasn’t overly comfortable.

When somebody mentioned yoga for the first time, I just looked at it and thought, ‘This isn’t for me; it’s for an older woman down at the health club trying to get supple.’ But I thought, ‘No, I can see the benefits there. I’ve got to embrace it.’

Sometimes you want to experience life, but ultimately, you’ve got to make sacrifices and choose the right road.

I just take it a season at a time because I know in football, things can change so quickly.

My head has just been all about wanting to play regular football in the Premier League.

The easy part, for me, is always playing my football.

Playing until I’m 40 is definitely a possibility.

I had my time in the England shirt and won a lot of caps.

Reports you read in the paper, you never know how true they are.

I obviously think I should always be picked. Every player thinks he’s good enough to be playing every week.

When you play a lot of games in a row, and you come off the pitch thinking, ‘I can’t do this no more,’ then it is time to look at something else, whether you have six months left on your contract or four years.

One of my strengths is focusing on football, and even in the summer, I try not to switch off too much.

Having been around, I know how difficult it is to get results in this league. It doesn’t just happen by buying players. It needs a lot of hard work.

If you go into a shopping centre, there are phones and cameras everywhere, and if you’re doing the wrong thing, ultimately you’re going to get found out. So it’s important you’re living your life right, and that’s hard for a young player.

When I started my career, we were running around water parks and ridiculous things like that. You used to drive in dreading pre-season back then, but now you know it’s going to be pretty tough, but it’s going to be probably what you need. It’s going to be good for you instead of just slogging away.

All I can do is give 100% for the club. That is all the fans will want to see anyway.

I’ve got massive respect for Arsene Wenger for what he’s done for the English game, and it would have been good to work under him, but that didn’t happen.

You only have to look at the England squad to see the amount of players who get in the squad and start the games – the majority play in the Champions League.

After Euro 2008, football in England was shattered for a bit, and people were losing interest in following England.

I want to come and help the team. That’s always been the same for me wherever I have played.

You play the game to win things, and if you asked me whether I would want to finish in the top four or win the FA Cup, it’d be FA Cup every time.

For me, Goodison is the toughest away ground to come to. I have experienced it.