Bastian Schweinsteiger Quotes

I see huge potential for the league and also for America.

I am sad to leave so many friends at Manchester United. But I am grateful to the club for allowing me the chance to take up the challenge at Chicago Fire.

In Manchester, you don’t have proper tall buildings. Or in Munich.

I wanted to play for United; I wanted to play at Old Trafford. It was always my goal.

Even when I was training alone, just me and one of United’s fitness coaches, I loved going onto the field, doing sprints, being at the training ground.

I have to thank the coach for looking after my fitness and allowing me to feel my way into the tournament.

I never doubted my quality. Let me show my quality, and I will get results.

I felt within myself that I needed to change what I was doing. I needed a new stimuli. So the interest from Manchester United was a perfect fit.

The English have a special sense of humour. This I immediately experienced in the dressing room. As I walked with two plates while eating, suddenly a team-mate asked me, ‘Basti, what time is it?’ hoping I would automatically turn my hand to look at my watch. That’s quite entertaining.

American leagues – baseball, ice hockey, American football and basketball – you are the best. But in a global sport like soccer, you’re not.

I am a football player. I like to win. And I am used to winning – quite a lot.

I’m not really a negative thinker.

The Premier League is a very strong league. Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool all have a high quality. But those who know me also know that I always want to win titles. And I think that Manchester United are a club which can win titles.

I have won the most national titles as a German, so what should I do after that? Lay back and take it easy? That’s not how I am.

I am actually comfortable in every position in midfield. At Bayern Munich, I even played as a winger and sometimes a full-back, so I can play many different positions.

The league is interesting because it’s evident everyone can beat everyone. And sometimes things happen you just don’t understand. This might be referee decisions or the running paths or passes of a teammate. It’s different than in Europe, but you have to take things as they are.

I would love to win the Champions League once again. Winning big trophies like the Champions League or the World Cup is usually making people think, ‘The players are not hungry any more.’ Still, that’s not what I feel.

I’m not one to think of burying my head in the sand – I’ve always been a positive person and still am now.

First of all, I think it is not easy to win a title in the Premier League, as you have really good teams here.

Rarely was a distinction deserves as the Oscar for best supporting actor, who went to the late Heath Ledger. His ‘Joker’ is really incredible.

You have to give it your all to be successful.

My hairstyle role model is Manuel Neuer. His hair is always perfect.

My wish is that soccer in the U.S. become on the same level like the Premier League, Spanish league, or the Bundesliga.

My absolute dream would be to play for Manchester United and help them reach the goals they have.

I am confident. My style of play is to control a game. You have to be smart in your brain and fast.

I love this game. I love to find solutions, ideas. I always saw the potential of this league. Now that I’m here, I want to help.

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 have to reserve special thanks to the United fans – whose support has been a very special part of my time in Manchester.

Real Madrid is one of the biggest clubs in the world. In every city, they have supporters. I hope that the people in Chicago support us, especially since we have some players on the team.

Not everything is seen that happens on the pitch – the teammate in a good position, where it might get dangerous, how a situation develops.

When our players come from somewhere else, they sometimes show happiness when the game is 0-0 or 1-1, but we were brought up in an environment where we have to win. We are not satisfied with 0-0 or 1-1. This is the mentality of Bayern Munich.

The small teams are playing well. That’s visible, and it has had an impact on German football.

I always want to play and help, especially when we’re at the top of the league.

I remember when I came on the pitch the first time after a long time where I was not selected. It was a great reception; I remember that so well.

One player’s influence in football is not as big as in other sports: it’s 11 players vs. 11 players.

It’s not like I can say, ‘I have signed for three years; now we’ll win three straight titles.’

My dream was always to play soccer.

I just want to help, first of all, the Chicago Fire to grow, to change the mentality to a winning team, and to reach the playoffs. That’s my goal. But also to change the game style into a team which is able to control every opponent.

Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were unbelievable players. You cannot compare yourself to them. It is impossible. Scholes especially, I like him a lot, and I have a lot of respect for what he did for United.

There’s a famous slogan here in the Bavarian dialect, and we use it inside Bayern Munich. We say, ‘Mia san mia.’ Literally, it is, ‘We are we,’ but it means, ‘We are who we are.’ That’s not being very arrogant, but we are very confident about our ability to win the game. It is about a winning mentality.

I hope that everyone tries to help to increase the level of the MLS and also that American players like Pulisic are here and not in Europe. That should be the goal for America. I just try to help as much as I can.

I just want to play well, have the people in Chicago enjoy watching soccer. You have a very good baseball team, a very good ice hockey team, and a very good football team. Hopefully you’ll have a very good soccer team.