I think, on one end, we need to understand that goalkeeping is an art and is also a very important position to have in your club.
— Edwin van der Sar
At Ajax, Juventus, and with Holland, I have played with top teams, and now I want to use my experience to reach the same goal with Fulham.
I want to finish at the top, playing well.
I didn't find it hard to settle at United because there was a great bunch of players, great staff, and a good atmosphere at the club.
You hope to bring your 'A Game' to any game, and of course you do in a final. You hope to bring experience, fitness, communication skills, motivational skills.
You have to get your motivation from within, and it doesn't matter if you lose in the quarters, the semis, or the final. You must want to have another chance of winning the trophy.
When I left Ajax in 1999, I travelled to Liverpool and spoke to Houllier. I was shown around Anfield and also met with the chairman and a couple of the players. I thought about it, but when Juventus came to the table, I came to the conclusion that it would be a bigger challenge to play in Italy.
When I was younger, I thought I would finish in my mid-30s because that is normal for most players.
I know I'm a good goalkeeper.
When I was 18, I never expected to be what I was - you hope to make your debut, to play for the national team, and I want to achieve something similar off the pitch to what I did on the pitch.
All things evolve, and European football needs to evolve as well.
Running a marathon is unlike anything I have done. You can recall all those bad weights sessions or the work you had to do in pre-season, but marathon running is worse than any of it, probably the hardest thing I have had to do in my entire life.
My career record was 5-2 in penalty shootouts.
If you are in the Premier League or at Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Bayern Munich, you are at an end station.
I am not worried about being a legend, like Solskjaer; you do your bit, and that's what counts.
We want to bring our own players through. That is what people like about Ajax.
It's always difficult if you're coming into a new club and new league, especially the English one. It's a very demanding one, can be a very tough one.
I would like Ajax to be people's favourite second team. Like in Spain, if you are a Real Madrid fan, then you can't be a Barcelona supporter. It's the same in Italy. But you can be an Ajax fan.
Jean Tigana wants to go to the top with Fulham, and I like that ambition.
Everybody doubts themselves. Every writer doubts themselves, every artist doubts himself, and every football player does.
Every flaw you have or lapse of concentration can cost you a goal, so you have to be on your toes every minute of the game.
It doesn't matter whether it is your first game or your last game: you want to win.
It's always hard the moment you decide to stop playing. It doesn't matter if you're at a small club or a big club: it's the end of your playing career, so that's always going to be a big moment for any player.
I've been the captain at Ajax and once for the national team - it's nice and makes you an important player.
You don't need only your strikers. You need your defenders to be on top of their game. You need a midfield to work hard and track back, and I suppose you need a goalkeeper who makes saves once in a while.
The most time players get off is during the international breaks.
It's hard to put your faith in youngsters, but Ajax have always done that.
We need a solution for European football. You need to help smaller clubs in European competitions get the right distribution of money so they can invest in coaches and attract talent for the level they can play at.
Nothing can replicate the thrill of making a great save at an away ground, or hearing your own fans cheering you, or the atmosphere when you score a goal or win a big game.
I am 40 years old, but I still feel fit.
The leagues in the countries around us are probably more interesting and played at a higher level, but in general, we are happy with the way we have moved things forward with Ajax, together with Marc Overmars as technical director, to establish a squad that can compete at the highest level.
I think there are always a lot of rumours about players from Ajax. We develop great players, not only in Amsterdam but hopefully also in Cape Town, and there is interest in a lot of our players, but we like to keep them for as long as possible.
At Ajax, we have a certain philosophy that is sometimes more important than winning - the development of players.
I have won things in my career, and people ask why that's not enough. But there can always be more.
I am delighted to have signed for Manchester United, one of the most famous clubs in the world.
I will miss football.
I don't hate the idea of retirement. I am looking forward to it.
As a goalkeeper, you always expect every team to give you nightmares.
You get confidence when you get on a roll. When you are not struggling, and you get your players back, it is bound to make everyone feel better about themselves.
Being at Manchester United is a great way to play at the highest level and win trophies with a team that is very closely knitted together.
Coming to Old Trafford gave me a new lease of life.
I'm always quite rational.
For everyone, the World Cup is important. It doesn't matter if you are 21, going for your first one, or 35 and going for your third one. It's the biggest stage you can play on, and every opportunity to experience it is something special.
Ajax always bring through young players from their academy - we can't pay €20m for a player, so we make sure we develop those players and give them the opportunity to play.
I'm not going back to Amsterdam, though it would be very comfortable there with Frank de Boer, Danny Blind, and Dennis Bergkamp. When I left 12 years ago, I said I would return, but I did not know then what great years I would have with Manchester United. I might occasionally visit training with them, but I will not be going regularly.
Playing is the biggest thing there is.
You see the strength of the Spanish league, the Premier League, Germany, France, and Italy. The TV revenues are so much higher in those countries.
As a striker, all you want to do is score.
United is a much bigger challenge than Ajax. They're not just a big and famous club but also a worldwide brand, yet when you're inside, it's still a family place.
I share a special bond with Ajax. I think we are a special club. And we're known for our philosophy around the world.
