Champions league progression takes years.
— Eniola Aluko
There is still this perception in football about whether people are 'English through and through.' Essentially there is not any such thing without going into a whole discussion on genetics and bloodlines of each player.
I've experienced it with Chelsea Women: it can be very hard at the top for long periods of time, fighting just to stay in the same position and to preserve an unbeaten run that will always come to an end.
There are many clever contractual ways to let a young player continue his career elsewhere while still having first option to bring them back in future. Contracts can include a buyback clause such as Barcelona had with Cesc Fabregas, or a sell-on clause where the development club benefit financially from all the work invested in the young player.
Many managers bring players they have previously worked with into a new club - but that doesn't always mean they will continue to enjoy success together.
Perhaps I am influenced by philosophies like the one at Chelsea which was 'If it isn't broken, change it' which saw us win three league titles in five years playing three different formations and tactical strategies so that the opposition could never keep up with our evolution at the time.
Maurizio Sarri is one of those managers who can get the best out of players who aren't necessarily world class which he proved at Napoli.
Most clubs say they will not tolerate any forms of discrimination - that cannot be something that is just said. It needs to be acted on.
Don't read, click links or subscribe to any media organisations that peddle sinister untruths and stereotypes.
Success is always the best answer to critics.
I've always been interested in law.
You are going to fail in sport, you are going to win sometimes, you are going to be criticised sometimes, you are going to be applauded - so it gives you... well, it's certainly given me anyway, those real-life lessons that make you bulletproof.
I would say the most memorable thing that has ever happened to me has to be when I got my First class honours Law degree at my University graduation. All my family from all over the world were there when I collected my degree. I will never forget that day.
To stay healthy, I like to eat healthy food. For example a lot of meat, pasta, vegetables and I also have to drink a lot of water and drinks with electrolytes in them.
Just because someone doesn't have a silver spoon in their mouth doesn't mean they can't be highly intelligent.
I've been at Chelsea five years and been the butt of many jokes. And I give it back sometimes. That is the beauty of team spirit in a healthy dressing room. I'm not a sensitive, precious person.
With the big clubs embracing women's football and the professionalism you see at the likes of Liverpool, Birmingham, Arsenal and my club Chelsea, it's really impressive. We're making great strides.
Italian sides will find it hard to attract the world's top players while there is a salary cap.
It can be difficult for players who are perceived to have turned their backs on England, as Wilfried Zaha has found out after deciding to play for Ivory Coast.
Sometimes it's easier to chase a title than it is to lead.
Sometimes clubs take their ownership of a young player for granted and do not necessarily do the best thing for their development.
Players are under enough pressure to perform from fans and the media without a manager complicating matters further in public.
After you're dating someone for a few weeks, you often don't become exclusive until you give yourself more time to know what a relationship could be like in the future. You can't get too excited too quickly.
It is not always about signing star forwards and midfielders.
If a player has been affected by racist chanting, then it is up to the officials to stop the game and make sure a message is read out to the supporters asking them to stop.
When black men become millionaires and can buy expensive homes for their families, it infuriates people who cherish the social construct where white people are at the top and people of other ethnic backgrounds are below.
Standing up for what you believe in and being honest, telling the truth are all very liberating things.
I was obsessed with the character Atticus Finch. I really liked the idea of having a voice for the voiceless, getting someone justice against the odds. That really resonated with me.
It is a certain type of guy who's OK with having a girlfriend who is better at football than him. It is actually problematic. Some guys really can't cope with it.
My first experience playing for England was very scary and nerve wracking.
I think obviously the men's game has a greater emphasis on physique and strength and speed. The women's game can be quite skilful and tactical by comparison.
My favourite artist is Beyonce. I also like Jasmine Sullivan.
Unfortunately for me, my England career has massively been soured. Even when I won my 100th cap, what people didn't see was everything that happened before that - which was me in floods of tears - because of how I felt it was handled.
Something about the WSL is that the margins for error are very small. In the Premier League you can get away with losing a couple of games, but the women's league is so short and the leaders tend to set the bar so high that if you lose a couple of games your title hopes are over.
I've learned things in Italy at the age of 31. Some of the passing drills are so complicated you need a high level of concentration and if you mess up the rhythm, believe me you are told!
I struggle to understand why many in football get so upset about dual nationality.
The fear for English players has always been that you might risk a place in the national team if you go abroad but now with all the technology we have, and social media, you are able to watch goals and assists every week, which means his performances are just as noticeable as anyone's in the Premier League.
If young players are capable of playing 90 minutes every week at European clubs why prevent them from doing that?
I think public criticism of players can go one of two ways: either the players will want to raise a proverbial middle finger at their manager and prove them wrong, or the squad will go within themselves and performances will deteriorate.
You cannot underestimate Zidane's achievement of winning the Champions League three times in a row - it must have taken superb skills to motivate the likes of Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema et al to have the desire to become serial Champions League winners.
On the pitch if I could summarise 2018 in one word it would be progress.
No one should feel comfortable venting racist abuse, whether from the stands or through media outlets. Just as fans must call out any fans they see hurling abuse, journalists must call out colleagues who perpetuate divisive rhetoric. Name and shame them.
When you look at some of the greatest people and players in the world they all stand for something outside their working lives.
You don't want an 18-year-old girl who's very talented thinking: 'I want to play for the first team but I've got to give up my education to do so.' That has happened a lot in the past.
Look, the reality is that people will pay more for a match when Wayne Rooney is playing than when I am playing. I will never expect to be paid the same as Wayne Rooney, because I am not Wayne Rooney. And there's no getting around that.
I think having a back-up plan is never a bad thing. I would hate to be a male footballer and look back on 15 years of my career and think, 'Oh well, I've got a lot a money but what now?'
When I score I go wild. Sometimes I put my arms out wide like the way Didier Drogba celebrates for Chelsea or sometimes I try to slide on the grass if the grass is wet enough.
Eventually I will own my own company and will provide advice to athletes and artists from the entertainment industry.
I've played for boys' teams.
I am proud to say I got 102 caps. I tweeted on the day of my 100th that I was 'grateful.'
