You don't want to have a good couple of years, come through the Championship, have a good first year in the Premier League and then not play in the Premier League for another year or so because that is a backward step.
I want to play in the Premier League, the Champions League, and I want to continue playing for England. If I'm going to do that, I have to play for my club and put in good performances for my club because there are other English midfielders who are doing that in the Premier League.
I'm sure I can work the Premier League, maybe my style of play is better suited to the Premier League than in the Championship.
I actually spoke to all the national team players who play in the Premier League, asking about what the league is like and the style of play. It's one thing watching it on the TV, but being involved in it every day is another thing.
We want hungry players, players who have a burning ambition to play in the Premier League and stay in the Premier League for years to come.
Many players in the French squad play in the Premier League or have played in the Premier League, so I knew about the level.
The England team shouldn't be picked on whichever players are in the Premier League when you've got a Premier League player playing in the Championship.
It's such a crazy league, the Championship. People used to say that to me, and when you are in the Premier League, you don't really take notice. It's a good league; it's tough, and I like it. But the Premier League is where I want to be, with Villa.
You want to play in the Premier League, full stop. You don't want to play in the Championship. I've played there and I don't want to play there again for West Ham.
There is a common mistake people make. They say, 'We need to play the young English boys.' Of course, but only if they are good. How can you measure that? If they are playing with good players and if they can fit into the level of the good players. That's why, because of the level of the Premier League, England has so many talented players.
For me, it was a dream to play in the Premier League. I always wanted to be here because this league is very good, it has very good teams, and Manchester United is the best team in England.
Whenever you're playing in the Championship or League football, you know there are play-offs at the end of it. If you miss out on the top two, it's a great alternative to play in a play-off final.
It is a great challenge to be playing against the best players in the world, and I always wanted to play in the Premier League and be a part of this league.
The Premier League is probably the best in the world so if you have a lot of players who play well there, it's normal that they are going to grow as players.
In Spain, they show many Premier League games on TV, and it is an inspirational league. Maybe I would like to play in the Premier League.
As a young boy, all we used to watch was the Premier League at that time. I know the FA cup is quite important. It's as important as the Premier League in England. And I had a chance to win it over our biggest rival, and it was also in the new Wembley. It was a great moment.