It was when I came back from Leeds that things started to change. I went from being a kid to having to man up and going into a man's game.
— Ross Barkley
My mum has always kept my feet on the ground and told me that if I carry on working hard it will pay off. I used to say 'If I play for Everton one day' and she would always say 'No, when you play for Everton.'
You have to work hard and your chances will come.
I've had to push myself and I've really matured.
I was very young when I got my tattoos. I was 16 when I got my full sleeve - I rushed into it.
In my living room I always used to tell my mum 'one day I'll score for Everton' and when that happened it was unbelievable for me.
It's about getting the right balance and knowing on the pitch when is the right time to take risks.
You want to be playing off the cuff sometimes to take chances and make something happen.
As a young lad it's been your dream to play football and you get injuries and you've got to respond well to them and work really hard, because it's your dream to be on the pitch.
If I do well at Chelsea, then the national team will take care of itself.
I played a lot of games at a young age and I feel like I'm an older player in the side now. I communicate a lot more on the pitch and in the training room now.
I believe in myself and I know what I can do.
We all go through difficult spells.
We can all improve.
I want to get to a level where I am regarded as one of the best and coming to a club like Chelsea gives me the right platform to improve.
If things aren't going well there's always going to be pressure that comes with it.
I'm Ross Barkley and I've got to create a better version of the player I am and show what I can do, not try to be like someone else. That's part of what I hope I can achieve here, to make people aware of who I am as a player and show everyone what I can do.
When I was younger I just used to get the ball and take on all the players because I was bigger and stronger. You cannot do that in the Premier League. You are playing against men.
I looked up to Rooney and he had played for Everton when he was 16 and I wanted to do the same.
It's Chelsea and you will always have competition for places here.
Now and again there are a few cookies going around the training ground. If we have played a game I can afford to have one.
At Chelsea I knew I'd improve a lot quicker around better players, world-class players.
I achieved my dream of playing for Everton, from a young age I always dreamed of scoring for Everton.
As a player you can't be too worried if you take a risk and whether it's not going to come off.
I believe I can hit the 20 goals a season mark.
To be given a fresh start at a new club like Chelsea, it's unbelievable for me.
When you have got a new manager you have got to impress and get used to what he wants really quickly.
You can take a bit of criticism from your manager now and then, but you have to react to it which I have done.
You have to go through bad days to get to the great days you have in your career.
I never thought I would not play for my country.
I have got to a level where I feel I needed to make the jump to Chelsea and push myself and get myself to a better level and playing with world-class players here is only going to help.
I am obsessed with improving.
Every manager has their own way of approaching games.
It was a big decision to leave Everton and it took me a lot of time to think over.
It's a goal to get myself in the squad for the World Cup.
I love Everton and all I think about is playing for Everton.
When you get your chance, you just have to be ready and believe that chances will come, that you are going to step forward and produce.
Each individual has their own pre-match ritual and pick off the menu. But I usually have a bit of pesto - either spaghetti or penne. On game-day I'll add a bit of meat to it and maybe some greens.
Coming to Chelsea was a big challenge for me.
When you first come back from a long-term injury, you're just trying to get your body in order and trying to get back into the training and match routine.
You don't want to play in your shell.
I'll keep improving with more games.
Chelsea is a massive club, you aim to win the Premier League or are challenging for trophies with the aim to win everything.
They've got a good atmosphere and it's always a tough game at the Stadium of Light.
I just focus on getting better every day, putting things right in training and then hopefully what I'm doing right in training I'm doing to show in games as well.
I'm a striker. I feel I can have my greatest impact there because I'm free to roam around the pitch, take players on, have shots and create chances.
We have to improve at club level - and at the international level, there is a lot of room for improvement.
I want to be regarded as a world-class midfielder.
It's all about success, winning trophies.
Bad days don't always stay.
