"You know, the greatest day in my football life was the day I signed for Liverpool," he said. "I couldn't believe it. When I was young in Czechoslovakia, we didn't see much European football, but my father's friend went to England and he watched Liverpool. When he came back, he gave me the programme, the ticket and a scarf - I still have them all.
"To me, it's the best club in the world and when I am finished playing and I'm telling my children about it I will be proud to say that for seven years I was a Liverpool player.
"Sometimes when I am moaning I say, 'Patrik, stop it, be happy, you can still play.' Injuries are part of football, part of the job, and I am lucky. Some players are not able to play the game any more.
"When I was injured the second time, same knee, that was the most difficult time psychologically. You can't kick a ball for five months. But you just have to take it step by step, do what they say. In two months, I'll be able to run outside, then I can twist and turn, then I can kick a ball, then I can play. I never thought that I wouldn't be able to play again.
"But when I came back, the Liverpool team had changed and I saw that I would not be playing every week. The last 10 or 12 games at Liverpool, I played in the reserves and I'm the sort of player who wants to be playing every week. I'm 30 now and I just love the ball. So I knew it was time that I moved on. But it was hard."
