I always like to remember the year 2008, when we had an amazing offer from Chelsea for Franck Ribery. From that day on, the whole world of football knew nobody can buy a Bayern Munich player against the will of Bayern Munich.
Teams approached my people and they relayed the messages to me. We sat down with Bayern Munich and as soon as I heard them, there was no hesitation that I wanted to join this team. I love playing for this club.
We have six teams at the level of Bayern Munich in the Premier League.
Every player who plays at Bayern Munich knows that Bayern Munich is a particularly special club. Whenever we lose, then it is lashed onto almost immediately by the media, regardless whether it is a friendly or losing the away game in a Champions League tie 1-0.
It's a fact I don't want to leave Bayern Munich.
In Barcelona, Bayern Munich, in Spain and Germany we were able to do it. But people say, 'You only did it because you were in Barcelona and Bayern Munich. You will not be able to do it in England.' So, let's do it. We are going to try.
I cried when Mario Gotze told me hell leave Borussia Dortmund & join Bayern Munich
If you want to keep up with the changes, then you have to watch as much football as you can. Live is the best way but also on television. All the best teams: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and now City. What are they doing? If possible, go and see them training. You can always learn.
Being Bayern captain feels good and I think it's logical a player from Munich should lead FC Bayern on to the pitch.
I joined Bayern at the age of 11, and from then on it was all about being up to the competition. It doesn't matter who you face, you are always the favorite. You learn this at a young age. And this continues throughout your career at Bayern Munich, you are always the favorite or one of the favorites in every competition you are involved in.
If you are the coach of Bayern Munich, Barcelona or Real Madrid, the chances to win something are huge. When you go to the Premier League, you have six, seven, eight teams who are fighting to win.
United are more popular around the world. There is a difference and I can see that. Bayern Munich is a big club but United are bigger. When we [Bayern] were in China people knew us but Bayern were not so big in America.
I've practically grown up with FC Bayern Munich since the age of 11. In my case, a talent scout noticed me when I was playing for a local youth team at Gern in Munich.
If teams play Bayern, they bring another attitude to the pitch than if they play teams who are not Bayern.
With Bayern Munich, we had a lot of problems against Dortmund, always.
I like to watch the top teams in different countries, like Spain or Bayern Munich in Germany. The rest I don't watch. I have nothing to do with that. I'm not a freak. I know guys who watch every game. I'm not like that.