Top 96 Quotes & Sayings by Ryan Babel - Page 2

Not everybody is following every league in the world so the Champions League is a platform where everybody can see what you're still able to do.

I was 20 years old went I went to the Premier League. When you are 20, you need from other people, you need people to talk to you. But when I went over there, nobody helped me.

For a 20 year old the gap from Holland to England is massive. That's a fact. Not all players are able to settle in directly from day one. I remember even Van Persie needed two, three years but he became Van Persie.

Not everyone is Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. Even Cristiano Ronaldo's first years at Manchester United were quite difficult.

I have played for Ajax, Liverpool and Besiktas in Turkey - all massive clubs in Europe.

The Premiership is maybe the best league, it's a very high level.

If you see my record I'm not a stereotype killer striker.

I came from Ajax where you play 4-3-3 and as a winger they didn't want you to defend.

My feeling about Al Ain was very positive, was very good, and if my feeling wasn't like that I would never have come.

A lot of things that were written about me bothered me, like my mentality was not good.

Nobody likes me. I know that the Holland boss, Ronald Koeman, appreciates me. But for pundits, TV commentators and in the media, I don't even exist.

If you are 20 you don't have the same life experiences as at 25.

I suppose people lost interest in me when I left Liverpool; but it wasn't me who left, it was other people who left me. If people had continued to follow me, they would have seen my two good seasons in Turkey which caught the attention of Besiktas and Galatasaray.

I play for my country and I am an established international.

Those types of players are always necessary in a team, who are very creative and can break a game open.

No, I never doubted my ability.

When I left Liverpool, I could have stayed in England but that would have meant joining clubs that didn't play football - just a long-ball game.

In the English 4-4-2 you have to change your mentality from a winger to a left midfielder, having to help your full-back.

I came in on time, I was always a professional.

If you are young and you don't get rewarded with game-time, or don't come into games, it is difficult to try to still be hungry in the training sessions.

England is the biggest league in the world. Of course, you have Barcelona and Real Madrid but, as a league, England is in my opinion the best in the world.

I went to the UAE aged 28, which normally doesn't make sense to go at that age.

A lot of people talked down about my career at some point, which makes sense.

There were situations in my career where I played much better than another player in my position, but that player had a better name in terms of commercial appeal.

I'm not really making decisions that people normally expect.

My career's been a bumpy road, but at the same time I think I am living proof that if you put enough work into things you decide more or less where you want to end up.

If you see the kids now they have attitude and a strong character. They play one or two games and demand they are involved. I didn't have that. I was too polite. It is not maybe always good to have fight, but gives a stamp - it shows directly that 'I am here. I mean business.'

I was only used to 4-3-3. For me as a left-winger you have also a left midfielder and a left-back behind you. But in a 4-4-2 you are basically also the left midfielder so you have to help more in defence and I wasn't used to that.

I have never been a difficult person.

I definitely made the wrong choices. I left Holland too early, I probably should've stayed one more year for my development, but these things happen.

People try to warn you about certain things, but sometimes you have to experience those things yourself.

During your career, you have to make decisions. Sometimes maybe you don't make such a good decision and at the end you have to try and recreate a position.

Before I take an offer seriously, I do my own research.

I know Robin van Persie very well and he is a great person and I have a lot of contact with him over the phone and text messages.

Turkish people are very emotional, very passionate about football, really want to see their team do well.

Liverpool is my club. I try to follow every game. I still support them, I wish them all the best.