* "Football is made up of subjective feeling, of suggestion and, in that, Anfield is unbeatable. Put a s**t hanging from a stick in the middle of this passionate, crazy stadium and there are people who will tell you it's a work of art. It's not - it's a s**t hanging from a stick" - A whole planet, bar the ones in red from Liverpool, unite behind Real Madrid legend Jorge Valdano.
* "Chelsea and Liverpool are the clearest, most exaggerated example of the way football is going. They are very intense, very collective, very tactical, very physical and very direct. But a short pass? No. A feint? No. A change of pace? No. A one-two? A nutmeg? A backheel? Don't be ridiculous, there is none of that. The extreme control and seriousness with which both teams played the semi-final neutralised any creative licence, any moments of exquisite skill" - Who also finds time to express his views on Chelski.
* "Those who did not have the talent to make it as players do not believe in the talent of players. They do not believe in the ability to improvise in order to win football matches. In short, Benitez and Mourinho are exactly the kind of coaches that Benitez and Mourinho would have needed to have made it as players" - And their managers.
* "I'd bet for sure that Milan will win the Champions League. I'm absolutely certain of it. I told their manager Carlo Ancelotti at the end of our semi-final that there is no way he cannot win it now" - Sir Fergie gets involved in the scouse-baiting.
* "Carlo gave me a magnificent bottle of wine. But I immediately told him there is no point in giving such a wonderful gift if he then fails in the final. In fact, I told him I would only drink his wine once I see him lifting the Champions Cup" - And plans his summer drinking.
* "I always knew one day I would not be a champion" - Do you feel sorry for Jose Mourinho?
* "Manchester United! Manchester United!" - Ruud van Nistelrooy runs up to David Beckham during a media interview on Sunday to give him the good news. Before running off laughing.
* "They shouldn't be coming in July. They are welcome in June, they are welcome in August, they are welcome in January or February but not in July" - Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed bin Hammam isn't impressed with ManYoo's summer plans clashing with the Asian Cup.
* "We played according to the rules of football. We did not organise our competition in March, April or February when their league is very busy and there are some players from Asia playing in those leagues. We did not want the players to be taken out of the leagues to participate for the national associations. We can do it actually. The FIFA calendar can allow this to happen if we will insist but we didn't want to do it and we organised our competition in the most inconvenient time for us, weather wise and climate wise. Some countries have typhoons, some countries have heavy rain or high temperature or high humidity, thinking this is the chance for our fans in Asia to focus only on Asian football" - Not happy at all.
* "The fans in Asia are watching Manchester United playing all through the year, from September until May, and the market says that whenever Manchester is playing or Liverpool are playing the television is paying for them. This market is going to be protected forever. It's a kind of colonialism" - Furious, in fact.
* "They told me at the time the lad had stamped on him but it wasn't until the night time I actually saw what he did. I could not believe it. I don't know what got into him. It was the first minute of the game. I don't know if it was instructions" - Nearly as furious as Sir Fergie was with Michael Ball and Man Citeh.
* "All derbies have their own characteristics but they are always the games you look for first when the fixtures come out. It is whoever wants it most and whoever is willing to fight for it most that will come out on top" - Michael Ball, pre-Manchester derby.
* "I deeply regret what I did and have accepted the FA's charge without hesitation. I have also sent a personal apology to Cristiano. My action should not be seen on a football pitch" - Although, to be fair to Ball, he said sorry quite fast.
* "I wonder what the situation would have been had City been in Charlton's position, or Wigan's position. There is no doubt Joey has been their best player and I couldn't see them doing this if they were in that position. Joey's definitely going to have to move on and he is in big demand" - Has Willie McKay convinced you Joey Barton has been badly treated yet?
* "Joey Barton is a coward. The marks he left on Dabo's face were shocking. Ousmane was unlucky to be caught up in it. He would not hurt a fly, and Barton knew it - he would never have picked on someone like Sylvain Distin, Hatem Trabelsi or Bernardo Corradi. Ousmane just pushed him and did not aim a blow, but Barton hit him with punch after punch. Barton simply does what he likes. He acts the big star - he thinks he is the Zidane of Manchester City" - He's not even convinced Barton's team-mates, going by Djamel Abdoun's view of things.
* "I'm the champion and I wanted to show that to everybody. If it was Ibrox, sorry. It was simple. I was just celebrating that we are the champions. I don't see anything weird with this" - Artur Boruc defends his flag-waving antics at Ibrox.
* "It is not a time to brag and rub people's noses in it. That will smack you right in the face" - Gary Neville doesn't want to wind up Chelski.
* "We're more than worthy winners. People talk about Chelsea's injuries and go overboard but every team suffers during the season at some point" - Rio Ferdinand does.
* "It's not always about how much money you have, but it obviously helps" - Martin O'Neill is going to be throwing some around in the summer, we think.
* "It is great to be reminded that the club have won the European Cup and we should not hide that under a bushel. I told the players that we have to set out to follow them, but they were really heady days and we have a long way to go. People will tell you, we're about four million light years away right now" - MON doesn't think he's set for a short-term role, then.
* "We will have to play well and make a spectacle of it. They have made a huge impact. The way the game is presented is very much at Sky's door and credit to them" - Mark Hughes sucks up to the suits ahead of Sky's 1,000th live match.
* "If I have been sent off for looking like a strange wee man, then I can't appeal against that. If he has sent me to the stand because I'm only 5ft 5in, then I can't argue with that. If he has sent me off because I played for Aberdeen, then fine. But until I find out what he sent me to the stand for, then it has to be a problem" - Gordon Strachan makes friends with another referee.
* "Fighting against relegation is something new for me. I was not used to fighting for not going down to the second level, but I take it like a challenge and I really like it" - Well, West Ham fans, at least Carlos Tevez is having fun.
* "I'm just glad I don't have to pay it" - Speaking of Tevez, here's Alan Curbishley trying to make out West Ham's fine was a just punishment.
* "Footballers frequently suffer from a condition called footballer's ankle" - This offering from Doctor Simon Moyes, believe it or not, is an 'expert opinion' on Michael Ballack's injury.
* "The league table speaks for itself. This is where it's at. As a season-long campaign, this team is where it's at - there's no politics involved or court cases. This is where it's at" - Alan Pardew knows, erm, where it's at.
* "If Simon wants a present, I'll send him a box of valium. He needs a long holiday. About five or six years. It's quite sad how he goes on and on. I think he wants to become a celebrity, someone everyone loves to hate. I think he's gone to Max Clifford and said 'how long before I can become famous for being nasty like Simon Cowell?' Max's reply would be 'normally six months, but in your case I'd say two days'" - Birmingham City's David Gold carries on his dignified war of words with Simon Jordan.
. I don't care what happens to him as long as he isn't in the united team list next season.
. Mikel looking good though. Bring on FA Cup Final!
