“Football’s a difficult business and aren’t they prima donnas?”

The Queen to Sir David Richards, the FA Premier League chairman

“If George Graham is the only one guilty of taking a bung in the last ten years, I would be absolutely amazed. I have been offered sweeteners by agents and certain club officials to sell players from this club.”

Mike Newell, the Luton Town manager, sparks a huge corruption controversy

“When I was playing I always saw a game as a war, it was win at all costs. I’m aware as a manager I cannot go off the handle as much as I did but if I feel something is not right I will look to nail it — just with a bit more subtlety.”

Roy Keane after being appointed Sunderland manager

“I’m feeling a lot of pressure with the problem in Scotland. Football is nothing compared with life. For me bird flu is the drama of the last few days. I’ll have to buy a mask.”

José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, is more worried about bird flu than Manchester United’s challenge for the Barclays Premiership

“I should be the happiest manager in the world after this and I’m not. In this country where people are interested only in points, coins and transfer fees, this is the worst club to be a manager of. I always have this negative feeling because of the things that are going on. I did think about closing the door and saying goodbye at the end of the season.”

Mourinho in the immediate aftermath of winning back-to-back league titles

“He went on to threaten that if he was forced to play, or if he was disciplined and financially punished for his breach of the rules, that he could score an own goal or get himself sent off.”

The official Chelsea website falls out with the defender, William Gallas, who denied the claims

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