When you come from Poland, you have nothing. Your mother and father are working. You have only a bed for sleep. You have a kitchen, and that's it. You must fight.
Lukas Podolski
I am pleased for Poland as a country, that new motorways are being constructed, new businesses, new stadiums.
I want to score in every game, play well, and set up goals.
I think when I play No. 10 or as a striker, I am in this position to score more goals, and I can shoot more.
I like the style of football in England and the style of Arsenal, and I'm very happy to play in the Premier League.
I want to be playing and enjoying my football.
It was easy for me to play in the Premier League.
It was hard every time I found out that I was not in the starting XI.
I must say I personally prefer the FC Cologne anthem over the Liverpool one.
A move away from Arsenal did not fall through because I had no offers to move.
Every tournament and every international game played gives you additional experience which brings you forward, both on the pitch and off it, but there is nothing more special than playing a World Cup on home soil.
I can't express in words my gratitude towards Arsenal fans for all they have done for me in my years in London.
I always say I have two hearts - one beats for Poland and the other for Germany.
I am strong enough, and I have qualities, and when good players come in, I will play with good players.
When you are a footballer, you will not always play 90 minutes. Sometimes you are not happy, but this is not important for me.
I am no longer 20 or 21 years old, so I cannot afford to sit around waiting for my chance. I am 29 years old, and I want to play, play, and play. I am not crazy; I don't want to sit in the stands.
I'm just as happy to be Polish as I am to be German.
Football is like recreation for me. I'd sooner be playing five-a-side than going out to eat or shopping.
When you are a big team, and you play away against a second or third-tier team, there is always pressure.
I love the competition, going out there for 90 minutes, fighting your opponent. If you take this competition away from me, I am not happy.
I've loved every minute playing for Arsenal, and I hope I have left my mark on the club and fans alike.
Argentina is not a bad team.
Arsene Wenger is a good guy and a good coach.
Arsenal is a very big team, and we want to win trophies.
I have celebrated major successes with Germany on the pitch, but not only that, I have experienced so much off the pitch too, visiting countries and cities all over the world.
When I went to Munich, I was perhaps a little too young.
It was tough for my family. My father was working; my mother was working. Sometimes I was alone at home after leaving school.
Back home in Germany, football people think very highly of Arsene Wenger. They listen to what he has to say and admire his achievements.
I know I have a left foot that was probably gifted to me by God, or someone up there, and I can always rely on it.
Cologne was my big team, my favourite team. I trained one week in Cologne, and they asked me to sign for Cologne. At 17 or 18, the coach asked me to go the first-team training ground. I was lucky to have that coach.
Young boys and girls should be given the chance to play football.
You have a lot of pressure in football.
I had the pressure when I started my career at 18 at Cologne, when people were saying, 'Ah, Podolski, the new hero of Cologne.'
People in England have a lot of respect. It is relaxed here.
When you are young and you play football, you must play in the street. When you go to a club at the age of five, and the coach says you must pass this, eat this, drink this... it's not a life. Young people must train for themselves, play football every day, and not have three coaches, with each one saying this and this.
I like the Premier League; the style of play, I like it.
It's not easy in England. It's so competitive.
Saying goodbye is very emotional.
Going from a two-year-old Polish boy, who practically came to Germany with nothing more than a football under his arm, to a world champion - it's more than I could have ever imagined.
When you go to a club and always sit on the bench and look at the team, it is not easy.
I think Arsenal would be good for a German coach.
Mr. Wenger could have moved on to another club, I am sure, but instead chose to stay and build something over the long term. He lives and dies by his own ideas, and Arsenal is his baby.
For me, respect is important.
I am a family person; we are a big family, and I need my friends around me.
If I come on for 10 minutes and play well, I can't go home and tell everyone, 'I played a great 10 minutes.' I have to play the full 90.
I have a four-year-old son, and he is the most important thing in the world to me.
I had other interesting offers, but for me, it had to be a top club. When you look at Arsenal, with a fantastic manager, good environment, and never any bad press surrounding the club, they are playing attractive football and have a great stadium with great fans.
It is not a problem to sit on the bench: absolutely not. When you have three games in a week, and you don't play, though, you have to think about it.
When I choose a club, it's not for the money, language, or the weather - those things aren't important.
Spain and England have great leagues, and it would be nice to play there when the time comes.
