Philip, the former Manchester United and Bayern Munich player who left the German giants to sign with Arsenal, says he would never have imagined his life in England would change after leaving the club.
“When I first came to England, I had a great time,” he told the BBC’s Football Focus programme.
“The first two years I was there I was a huge fan of the club, the first year I was at the Emirates I was very excited, I got on very well with the staff.
I didn’t realise that at the time that this would be the case. “
In the first few weeks I got a few texts from a few people, they were saying that they thought I should go and play, so I did.
I had no idea it would be like this.” “
I didn’t understand why.
I had no idea it would be like this.”
Getty Images 12/12 David Beckham: ‘Arsenal and Manchester United are both great teams’ The England international was asked if he thought he would have played at Manchester United or Arsenal had he stayed in England.
“If I had stayed at Arsenal and had had the opportunity to play for the English national team, I would have,” he said.
“What happened was that Arsenal and Manchester were both great clubs, and when I was in the second half of my career, I thought I would always have the opportunity. “
“It was very tough at the beginning, I was always frustrated, and then I got the opportunity and I was able to have the most success with Arsenal. “
“Arsenal was an incredible club, a very special club, and I felt like I was part of a great team, and Arsenal and the fans were fantastic. “
“And of course Manchester United, they are a great club, but I would never change where I am now. “
I love the place I am in. “
And of course Manchester United, they are a great club, but I would never change where I am now.
I love the place I am in.
I think the people in England are fantastic, and if you play in a country like that, you have a lot of fans. “
You know, I’m very lucky to be in England and I’d love to play again.
“They’ve made a lot out of me. “
I never would’ve imagined this. “
They’ve made a lot out of me.
Getty 13/12 Gianluigi Buffon: ‘You have to be a winner’ ‘You can never go back to being a winner, even in football’ The Italy international says he is happy to be living in the Premier League despite being a Manchester United supporter. “
That is the best compliment I can give to any club in the world.”
Getty 13/12 Gianluigi Buffon: ‘You have to be a winner’ ‘You can never go back to being a winner, even in football’ The Italy international says he is happy to be living in the Premier League despite being a Manchester United supporter.
“Sometimes when you are a supporter of a team like Manchester United you feel like you are always losing, but that’s not true, you always win,” he added.
“This season you can see that, in every game you get more and more support from the fans. “
And this season the fans are more than ever. “
This season you can see that, in every game you get more and more support from the fans.
That’s what I’ve wanted since I was young. “
For me personally, I’ve always said that, I feel like I have always been a Manchester supporter.
And that is why I like being a City fan. “
Every day you come to the stadium, you feel a part of the team, you get involved in everything, you are part of this football club.
That is how I feel.” “
Just because you play for a Manchester club, doesn’t mean you’re a Manchester fan, you’re just a fan of this club.
That is how I feel.”
Getty 14/12 Fabio Capello: ‘We had a very positive year’ After his spell at Chelsea, Capello was left out of the starting line-up for Italy, despite leading them to the 2014 World Cup final.
“Fabio Capelli had a fantastic season at Chelsea,” said Arsene Wenger, speaking at the World Cup.
“He was a great leader, a great player.
“At Chelsea, we had a good year. “
We had a lot positive things to show. “
At Chelsea, we had a good year.
We had a lot positive things to show.
But at the end of the day, we won the World Championship, we got a lot, we did the most things possible, and we scored a lot more goals.” “
We had one or two mistakes.
But at the end of the day, we won the World Championship, we got a lot, we did the most things possible, and we scored a lot more goals.”
Getty 15/12 Rio Ferdinand: ‘There was always the possibility