Top 93 Quotes & Sayings by Gareth Barry
Explore popular quotes and sayings by an English athlete Gareth Barry.
Last updated on November 21, 2024.
Martin O'Neill has definitely got the best out of me.
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.
At school, I was always a central midfielder from a young age. Then, when I joined Villa at 16, the pre-season didn't go too well, so they looked at me as a centre-half.
We never seem to make things easy for ourselves at Everton, and at City, it was the same, having to come from behind to get ahead in the big games.
It was Martin O'Neill who said, 'You're a central midfielder.' He put faith into players. He was very clever at getting into players' heads, leaving little remarks to make me believe more. The players at Villa all moved up another level under him.
My upbringing wasn't overly comfortable.
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.
As a younger player, I never really thought about where I should be on the field. It was just about doing a job.
All I can do is give 100% for the club. That is all the fans will want to see anyway.
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.
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 played a lot of games for Villa, and one of my regrets is not winning a trophy there - that still hurts, and that's why the big games are important.
Burn-out can be an issue if you are playing too many games.
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.
It's nice hearing your team-mates wanting you to stay.
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.
I started my career in an era when footballers were different. There was a different culture.
Any great club needs the mentality to go on and achieve things - it is what clubs like United have.
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.
The easy part, for me, is always playing my football.
I just take it a season at a time because I know in football, things can change so quickly.
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.
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 want to come and help the team. That's always been the same for me wherever I have played.
I treat the young boys as I wanted to be treated when I came through at Aston Villa.
I knew my first game at Everton wasn't going to be a stroll around the pitch.
I'm desperate to play Champions League football, and that's why I have to leave Villa.
The England manager didn't think I was good enough, and as a professional, you have to take it. Sure, it was disappointing, but all you can do is carry on playing well for your club and hope it changes. Unfortunately, it didn't.
I used to say I preferred midfield because I enjoy trying to make goals, and scoring is a buzz.
Steven Gerrard - at his peak, he was outstanding both attacking and defensively.
I like going down to London for a couple of days, but it's a place where I'd never fancy living - too busy, too lively, people on top of you.
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.
I have always said that management is not something I fancied, but it's suddenly, naturally started to enter my head.
Sometimes you're just not in the manager's thoughts.
Against Chelsea, you will have periods in the game when you are right up against it, when they keep the ball. They are pretty solid the way they set their team up.
It's a fantastic life I've been living - let's keep it going.
If players know their role, it is easier to keep to them.
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.
When you're told you're going to miss out, initially, that first hour after the manager's named the team, you're really disappointed. You can't imagine anything worse. But you can't show that. You've got to go out there and support the lads.
I had my time in the England shirt and won a lot of caps.
Nobody likes to lose 3-0.
David Silva at Man City was my favourite player to play with; we had a good understanding on the pitch.
No one has said, 'What are you doing still playing?' Everyone said, 'Play as long as possible.' You stop when you stop enjoying it, and I'll know when I've had enough and can't keep up with the boys.
I feel very lucky that I'm left-footed because the number of us around is very small.
Playing until I'm 40 is definitely a possibility.
To play in the Premier League again would be amazing.
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.
I made my mind up that I want to continue playing as long as I can.
Everyone's expecting you to be playing fantastic football, winning every game, and course it doesn't happen like that.
As a player, you always want to play - it would be wrong to say otherwise - but you can always understand the manager's reasons if he decides to leave you out.
British managers tend to be a bit more hands off, let you express yourself in training.
I think playing international football burns players out, but I was in and out of the England squad so never felt that.
For me, Goodison is the toughest away ground to come to. I have experienced it.
Both Everton and City have fantastic sets of fans who really get behind the players.
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.
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.
I'm never going to be seen as an attacking midfielder who's going to dribble past anyone, create untold chances, and score lots of goals, but going forward is something I've always enjoyed doing.
Confidence and momentum are huge in sport.
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.
I obviously think I should always be picked. Every player thinks he's good enough to be playing every week.
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