"When I was a young lad at Manchester United I was a different animal completely. I had to move from United to understand the stature and status I had in the game. It was only when I left Old Trafford that I understood people wanted to hear what I had to say. I only realised that when I was a player at Chelsea and I liked the reaction I got in the dressing room. I liked the fact that my opinion was valued by other players.
"That's the point in my career I look back on when I realised I could make a difference and I've been trying to do that ever since.''