Demba Ba

Eden Hazard is one of my close friends and Branislav Ivanovic I like.

Sometimes people have a Plan A and a Plan B. But, as far as I'm concerned, I have just had a Plan A.

My behaviour in the past wasn't too bad. But let's say it was not in keeping with the Islamic faith's demands. Nightclubs, for example. People tell me it's not a big deal if I go to them - but I don't do it any more.

English people have a great sense of humour.

If a defender has the ball and turns, we start pressing the goalkeeper before he passes back because if they make a mistake, it is a chance.

I'm not a Liverpool supporter.

I'm not a Steven Gerrard supporter.

I have faith in my ability to score, and also create goals for others too.

Alan Pardew is a very good coach and is doing very well at Newcastle. He is very thorough in his preparation for games and makes sure we all know our roles on the pitch.

I enjoyed my time at West ham, scored a few goals there but was bitterly disappointed when we were relegated.

I always back myself to do well.

I have always worked hard to deserve what I have.

If I play well, I'll deserve to play. If I don't perform, it will be my fault.

I have never doubted that I would succeed from the moment I first began playing football.

I'm happy for the move to Chelsea from Newcastle and I did what I had to do with the time I was given.

Sometimes when you come in a team where there are a lot of big names - how can I say this? - the name plays more than the statistics.

When the club who won the Champions League wants you, the decision is very easy.

The thing I expect from myself, when I play, is to score, in every game. If I don't, then it happens. But when you start a game, if you are a striker, you need to score.

You know when you go to a club and you are a striker, that the people expect you to score some goals. That's what I'm trying to do, every game.

When I drink water, I put syrup in it.

I love syrup. Strawberry syrup.

Sometimes I just like to be powerful.

If I enjoy myself on the pitch, then I'm going to have a good performance.

My mum had the hardest work in the world, making sure her kids are following the right way, and she had a lot of kids.

I am from the bottom, so if I go back to the bottom I haven't lost anything.

The first image I have of club owners is that the club is one of their toys and they do what they want and they lose a lot of money and they just don't care about who's working in it.

I had no doubts I wanted to be a footballer because that was the only option.

It was not a sacrifice leaving the house when I was young and travelling around Europe to find a club. It was the only way to get to where I am today, and I am proud of that.

Some people have many options but for me football was my only option, so I gave everything.

It is very important you have strikers who can run and defend.

I am a good professional and I keep fighting for what I have.

For me, I am always hoping to play for the national team.

There are always communicative problems when you play football. It is part of the game. It is a problem you need to solve.

When I played in Belgium, Germany and England, their cultures were similar, more or less, because these clubs are all in Europe.

After playing for several European clubs including Chelsea I opted to come to Shanghai. I wanted to see new things here, to get to know the Chinese people.

Arsenal are one of those teams who makes you dream.

It's really important to score for a new club early on; when you come in and score right away you feel much better.

He always told me I'd score goals; Alan Pardew gives me a lot of confidence.

I had always worked to get to a club like Chelsea and start winning some trophies and doing what I have got to do.

At the end of the day, I have a lot of ideas. I cannot give them to clubs I play for because they have their own ideas - their own sporting directors, their own general managers - of what they want to do. When you have your own ideas, the only way you can execute them is to get a club yourself.

When I go to the movie theater, I want to get emotion from the actors in the movie.

I know what I'm able to do and I've proved it at every club I've played for.

Something which is easy for me to give is money. I feel detached from it. I look after myself and my family but I won't forget people who struggle. My father lives in Senegal. They are from the smaller villages and know how to distribute money to people who need it.

People sometimes have a bad image of Islam but that is an image of what people are doing with Islam.

It doesn't matter what you have, as long as you're happy with the people you are with.

I'd always loved English football.

I've played football since I was seven - but loved basketball. Cire, who is one of six brothers, always played in the top two divisions in France. At the age of 15, I started having football trials. And, when I compared myself to other players, I thought, 'why them and not me?'

When I joined Newcastle, at the beginning it was difficult. During pre-season, there was no Ramadan and I also didn't score then. So it's a myth. It was about getting into the team, knowing the players better and how they play. My team-mates also have to understand how I play and move.

Yes, I'm from a very big family but it's great. All my brothers are friends as well. We all grew up together and have great memories.

My former agent introduced me to darts by saying it was a game that would be a lot of fun. He knew I had to concentrate on hitting three 20s or a double or a treble - as this is a target you must achieve. Your mind is focused on accuracy. And it's the same in football, where I must strike the ball just to the right or left of a post.