The Hull job had been offered to me and while watching Chelsea against Bayern Munich I was thinking: 'I'm going to give it a crack.' I'd rather be managing than commentating.
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.
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.
With Bayern Munich, we had a lot of problems against Dortmund, always.
If you want to measure yourself with Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United, you, as Bayern Munich, need a philosophy. That must be the aim of the club.
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.
If you play for a team like Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, or PSG, the aim is always to win the Champions League.
I want to go to a club like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, or Bayern Munich.
Manchester United? That's not an option. I am staying at Bayern Munich. Period. I had a great time under Van Gaal at Bayern, he has been very important for my career but I am very happy at my current club.
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.
I know most of Europe do not want to play against Bayern Munich.
It was a big step for me to go to Bayern Munich. Of course, the expectations were different than at Dortmund, but that's what I wanted.
Being Bayern captain feels good and I think it's logical a player from Munich should lead FC Bayern on to the pitch.
We cannot rest while Brazilians are going hungry, while families are living in the streets, while poor children are abandoned to their own fates and while crack and crack dens rule.
I never lost a game against Bayern Munich until Pep Guardiola arrived. He made them better.
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.
You see the likes of the Barcelonas and Real Madrids, and you always want to play against them and, obviously, Bayern Munich too.