If you're injured, it's always mentally hard.
— Toby Alderweireld
I won the title three times with Ajax; I played in the Champions League final and won the league title with Atletico. I have also played in the World Cup.
I'm grateful to play at Wembley - it is a very historical place - but it is not the same feeling as White Hart Lane.
If you have two weeks of no feeling in your leg, you start to wonder, 'Will it ever return?'
Who am I, of course, to judge them, but the Premier League must urgently think about a rest period in a European Championship or World Cup year.
Everyone was saying everywhere that I absolutely wanted to leave Tottenham. That's not true.
I feel I am a total defender.
At Ajax, they are strict when it comes to using the ball as a defender.
That is good to have a manager who is very clear.
It's difficult when you play the best teams in the world. You have to be strong as a team and defend and get clean sheets.
It's always been a dream to play at a club like Spurs.
Pochettino likes to play from the back, with the buildup, have the ball.
I really want to go to a club that really wants me. Southampton gave me that opportunity, and it paid off, I think.
Ajax is in every way a fantastic club.
I rarely see my family; my older brother, Peter, has twins - I was not there on the day of their birth or for any of their birthdays.
I just try to help Tottenham as I can with the abilities I have.
You need to have dreams and goals in your life, but it's not easy.
I enjoyed English football from day one when I was with Southampton.
I signed for Tottenham for a reason, and I love to play here.
Do I hope Batshuayi comes to Tottenham? Yes, of course. He has a lot of qualities.
We have to work hard and not dream too much, because if we dream too much, we can fall down very quickly.
I do not want to be 36 years old and can hardly walk.
I am a defender, but I can play the ball. I have a good technique.
I've played with Jan Vertonghen for Ajax and the national team.
I have been very lucky to get the managers in the world.
At Wembley, it's difficult for the fans to come there and make it your home. Sometimes the stadium wasn't full because the maximum on the capacity.
It's nice when you join another club that you know a couple of players.
At Ajax, I got an education in how to be confident on the ball, my technique, and then, at Atletico, I learned how to defend. It was about the details, the ruthlessness; be clinical in front of your own goal, win every duel, be clever. I learned so much and, defensively, I grew there so much.
I'm a good marker, and I have a nice, long pass.
Nobody's more important than the team.
Since I was 15, I have not spent a Christmas or a New Year with my family.
When a club like Milan is interested, there are not many players who would say 'no.'
I defend my position. I am not Messi. I am not Ronaldo. I have something else. I am not the quickest, like Walcott. I have to be clever and read situations. If I didn't have that, I wouldn't be able to play Premier League. Everybody has a strength - this is mine.
We are never satisfied. We always try to improve.
Sometimes it's all about confidence.
Keeping mental freshness is sometimes difficult... but it is easier when you win.
I just try to help Tottenham as best I can with my qualities.
At Ajax, they don't worry about your age. If you're good enough, you play.
I am very fortunate to have had the education at Ajax.
I am happy that I can go to Tottenham but want to thank Southampton and coach Ronald Koeman.
Simeone, De Boer, Van Basten - fantastic names to have worked with.
How happy am I on a scale of one to 10? When you have a daughter, it's 10 out of 10. It doesn't matter what happens. The joy that I get from that, I try to give it to my football.
Always be focused and never let it go - that's something I've learned so much. I learned that from Simeone.
If you have a good squad, and the hunger is there to win something, you can do it.
I do not want to play in an English club in mid-table.
I'm enjoying the Premier League; I'm enjoying playing for Southampton - I love the club, and I love the supporters.
I have one thing in mind: make the most out of football.
A Champions League final is so rare to play.
