I didn't know too many people in life, not just in sports but in life, that were vegan, so it was something that I had to educate myself on fully before I could, one, do it myself, and, two, talk to others about it.
— Chris Smalling
When you have come from the bottom and worked your way to the top, you are more grateful.
I wish I knew in terms of more educated in food when I was younger. Because the importance of it not just in sport but in life too has helped me and I think it'll continue.
I was born in London but, after my dad passed away, we moved to Kent for a fresh start.
Ultimately, what you're feeding yourself has a bearing on how you're going to perform.
People might think it's all about getting up for a game but it's often the opposite.
You can put too much pressure on yourself. You can start forcing balls, maybe trying too hard. You make things too complicated.
At cricket, I was mainly a bowler and tried to bat. I hit the odd four or six and then got out! In athletics, I was mainly triple jump and 200m.
I had nothing to lose at my Fulham trial and I just gave it my all.
All of us are professionals and no player wants not to play.
I've had many setbacks.
With United the spotlight is always on and there's always going to be that pressure, no matter what the game is.
I quite like being aggressive and horrible which gives you more confidence to dictate over strikers and to make them feel they have had a frustrating game when they've walked off the pitch, feeling very down.
My mum and brother are so proud of me.
Everyone has their own traits but if you are being compared to players like Rio Ferdinand then you must be doing something well and hopefully I can keep that going.
I understand that I am in an extremely privileged position and I am deeply thankful for that but, at the end of the day, we are all human.
You can't rest on six months of good performances because as soon as you have a blip, there is always another player to take your place.
I've always been a centre-half, to be honest.
Van Gaal is receptive to other people's ideas.
My mum tried her best. Now I try to make her life as enjoyable as I can because she has done so much for my brother and me.
You do see very few English players going abroad and those that do are largely good players otherwise they wouldn't have gone, but I feel a lot of their downfall is in the language. On the pitch you can learn the different basics of 'left,' 'right' and 'behind you' but off the pitch you want to have that influence around the team.
As I've got older I've become a lot more conscious of my diet and making sure I was getting all the right things.
You work every day technically, physically but so much is in the mind. Look at when players go on big scoring runs, then stop scoring. It's not that they are any different physically, it's very often mental, confidence, concentration.
If they want to kick the ball up in the air, I will challenge all day long.
Even before I joined Manchester United, I knew of Wazza as a hard worker.
I liked business studies and economics at school and it followed on from there.
When someone like Lukaku gets you in the position where he's holding you off it is key to try and nick it in front of him.
A lot of successful teams are based on having two or three solid partners that rarely change.
Whether it's the Premier League or the Champions League, I can showcase my abilities.
I like to get the ball down and play, but I can always get stuck in and hold my own.
Nobody wants to train every day so the more games the better.
We have to take a greater stand against discrimination of all kinds.
Throughout my career I have developed a thick skin against verbal abuse, justifying it as just 'part of the game' but the time has come for Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to consider regulating their channels, taking responsibility for protecting the mental health of users regardless of age, race, sex or income.
When you come to Manchester United, in every transfer window - whether the team is doing well or badly - there are always players linked with the club because this club is always linked with the best players.
When you've got the experienced players around you who've won countless trophies and titles between them, you want to rise to them.
Ultimately it's the simple things that make a difference.
I have a collage of pictures of my dad holding my brother and me. I look at that before every game just to remind me about having no fear or regrets and to go out and enjoy the moment, because I know how precious life is.
You're never going to be bulletproof, but if you're feeding yourself good food and making sure you're eating the right supplements, I think you reduce the chances of getting any niggling injuries.
My wife is vegan and has been for a few years.
You can have so many different demands; trying to please the fans, pleasing the manager, please yourself.
I liked Thierry Henry. I watched Arsenal so much on TV.
It doesn't matter whether it's the 93rd minute, Giggsy is making his jinky, mazy little runs. You could forgive him for maybe not coming out training every day, because he's done so much in the game, but every day he's out there. He doesn't seem to need a rest.
I had the offer of places at Leicester and Loughborough to study financial economics.
Football Beyond Borders is about learning, establishing new beliefs in an ability to succeed.
Football was always a dream, but a distant dream until when I was about to go to university. I'd had a couple of trials, but it wasn't a realistic dream, it was a kid's dream.
Ultimately it's your club form that decides whether you play at a World Cup because there aren't many England games throughout the season.
I would have gone to Loughborough to study business management and was looking forward to that very much.
It is nice to hear yourself being compared to great players.
As a patron of a youth education charity it is my duty to use my platform as a voice for all, regardless of background.
We take more risks at United than the majority of teams but the manager wants us to play.
