Mum used to have my sister to look after, so I had to make my own way to training. I would get a bus to town and another one to Netherton. It would take about an hour.
Ross Barkley
I was always a good cook from my mum showing me when I was a young lad, but hiring a chef helped me to understand food better.
My aim is to be a winner.
When I broke into the Everton side under Roberto Martinez, I was playing in the No. 10 role, and I had never played there before, so I was getting used to that role as a first-team player.
Day-to-day training with world-class players, there is no better feeling than that.
I was very young when I got my tattoos. I was 16 when I got my full sleeve - I rushed into it.
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.
I don't feel pressure.
I've added a bit more composure on the ball and defensively got a bit cuter and improved in one-on-ones.
In my mind I always think positive.
On derby day it's not down to form, it's on the day, who's prepared for the game and who wants to battle.
If I do well at Chelsea, then the national team will take care of itself.
I signed as an 11-year-old for Everton. I broke into the Under-18s at the age of 14, then the reserves at 15, then I was in the first-team squad at 16.
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.
Hopefully I will continue to thrive.
I am obsessed with improving.
I achieved my dream of playing for Everton, from a young age I always dreamed of scoring for Everton.
Compared to when I was 18, 19 or 20, I would say my diet is the big difference. It is much better.
Coming to Chelsea was a big challenge for me.
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.
I am thankful for everyone at the club that helped me, the fans, the coaches that I have had, the staff that have helped with injuries, I am really grateful to everyone at Everton. It was like a family to me.
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.
I used to be really fussy, I just used to eat chicken or steak. I didn't really eat fish, but I eat a lot of it now.
It's a goal to get myself in the squad for the World Cup.
Everton means the world to me.
We all go through difficult spells.
I feel I'm a player who entertains and gets people on the edge of their seats, as well as trying to be a game-changer who can win a game for the team.
You can take a bit of criticism from your manager now and then, but you have to react to it which I have done.
Chelsea is a massive club, you aim to win the Premier League or are challenging for trophies with the aim to win everything.
It was a big decision to leave Everton and it took me a lot of time to think over.
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.
Bad days don't always stay.
Every manager has their own way of approaching games.
If things aren't going well there's always going to be pressure that comes with it.
It's all about success, winning trophies.
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.
I want to be regarded as a world-class midfielder.
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.
We can all improve.
We have to improve at club level - and at the international level, there is a lot of room for improvement.
I never thought I would not play for my country.
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.
You have to go through bad days to get to the great days you have in your career.
I believe in myself and I know what I can do.
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 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.
They've got a good atmosphere and it's always a tough game at the Stadium of Light.
When you have got a new manager you have got to impress and get used to what he wants really quickly.
To be given a fresh start at a new club like Chelsea, it's unbelievable for me.
I'll keep improving with more games.
