Vincent Kompany

Being a successful team is maybe not enough. It's about setting a standard, not just for ourselves but also for the youth that is coming through at Manchester City.

My mum was always more pushing me towards the academic side; she wasn't really interested in me having a professional football career.

Guardiola has come to City with a very unique style. And he wants to continue that philosophy. We had to work to adapt to his style.

Over the past decade, I've been lucky to have witnessed and played a part in Manchester City's rise as a club and a brand.

I don't think you can underestimate the impact of the gaffer.

I'd rather give up most of my wealth to have the guarantee that I can carry on working for the rest of my life.

When I read or study, I don't do it for the degree - if I fail, it doesn't matter, but it just takes me out of this world where you're the centre of attention all the time. You just become a normal bloke when you're setting yourself those kinds of targets.

I've received much from Manchester - a great career at the highest level, unconditional support from the fans through thick and thin, a lovely family, and so much more to be grateful for.

I never thought I could enjoy all this wealth without putting it to good use.

Every club you sign for, they give you the same pitch - 'We've got a big project, big ambitions. We want to achieve this and that. We want to kick on' - and I just happen to be lucky that City was the one club that didn't lie about it.

I remember always going to the train station where I grew up, and on the wall was written, 'The real wealth of a nation is diversity of cultures.' Where I grew up, that's what I saw, and that's what I believe in as well - and I still believe it.

Brussels is sort of a mini London in the sense that if you think about putting a football pitch in London, people laugh at you. There is just no space.