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 the Bundesliga, you have Bayern Munich, and they win it every year. Or Dortmund.
I cried when Mario Gotze told me hell leave Borussia Dortmund & join 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.
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.
You see the likes of the Barcelonas and Real Madrids, and you always want to play against them and, obviously, Bayern Munich too.
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.
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.
Real Madrid is like Manchester United or Liverpool or Bayern Munich. There is so much history, and you need to play and win against that history. It's difficult to play against them because you fight against everything - the history, the players - but because of that, the motivation is always so high.
I know most of Europe do not want to play against 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.
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.
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.
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.