To not apologise for the behaviour of the players to another manager is unthinkable. It’s a disgrace, but I don’t expect Wenger to ever apologise…he’s that type of person.’ (2005, Wenger) The credit to them, the better team won and there’s nothing we can do about that now.” (On defeat at the hands of Barca, Champions League final, 2009) They say he’s an intelligent man, right? Speaks five languages! I’ve got a 15-year-old boy from the Ivory Coast who speaks five languages!” (On Wenger) What happened is beyond all bounds. The club again sincerely apologises to West Ham United and the thousands of well minded AZ supporters who have also been inconvenienced by the misconduct. I knew I was alive but, on my own, I started thinking, ‘I wonder if they’re telling me the truth?’ The operation was a success, but you’re in that loneliness. It can be frightening.”

He’s been OK,” he said of Bamford. “He’s obviously extremely upset about the situation. It’s something that’s left a very, very bad taste indeed. I’d like the police to do a lot more, but it appears with social media they rule the world and can say and do what they want unfortunately, which is why the world’s in such a big mess, isn’t it? There has been a lot of expectation on Manchester City and with the spending they have done they have to win something. Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour and have to live with it. You can’t do anything about them…” (On Man City) If you have a strong squad, rotation will be important,” he said. “Rotation is going to be important, utilising the whole squad is going to be important. We haven’t felt the necessity to necessarily do that on a consistent basis because we’ve been in one competition - of course, we had the cup run. Jose understands winning and losing are twins in a way. When you win you don’t gloat and when you lose you don’t go bananas.” (On Mourinho) In the fight against the drop, Forest entertain Arsenal, while Everton travel to Wolves and Leeds are hosted by a West Ham side that might still need a point to guarantee survival. And for the third time in three weeks, Leicester have to wait until Monday night to rage against the dying of the light. An unenviable trip to St James’ Park is next on their itinerary Premier League fixturesTen years on from his final match at the helm (May 19, 2013), we take a look at some of the most notable. Wigan Athletic will be deducted four points from the 2023/24 Sky Bet League One table after failing to pay its players’ wages on time in May 2023 and further to previous breaches of EFL Regulations. The sanction will be applied at the start of the new league campaign with the Club also receiving an additional four-point deduction for season 2023/24, which is to be suspended until 30 June 2024.

The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time.” Bamford and his family were subjected to online threats by keyboard warriors and his manager feels more should be done to protect footballers from such toxic and potentially intimidating bile. It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt such an honour to be associated with such a player.’ (on Roy Keane’s inspired performance in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League against Juventus in 1999)We have rotated to a degree, but maybe not in the numbers that we might need to next year. If you’re going to do that, then the squad needs to be strong enough, so if you put out two XIs, they’re of equal strength.” The club have issued a statement confirming that the 31-year-old defender will leave Old Trafford when his current contract expires at the end of June. If I have my health I can carry on. There will be a point when I do quit but I have absolutely no idea when that is.” The suspended deduction will also be activated if the Club fails to pay its players on time between now and the end of June 2024. He’ll be getting a hug and a kiss from me - maybe even two!’ (on his friend Sam Allardyce after Bolton stalled Chelsea’s title challenge in 2006-2007)

I think he was an angry man. He must have been disturbed for some reason. I think you have got to cut through the venom of it and hopefully he’ll reflect and understand what he said was absolutely ridiculous.’ (On Benitez) Fear has to come into it. But you can be too hard; if players are fearful all the time, they won’t perform well. You play different roles at different times. Sometimes you have to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a father.” David is the only player I managed who chose to be famous. He thought he was bigger than Alex Ferguson.” He was certainly full of it, calling me ‘Boss’ and ‘Big Man’ when we had our post-match drink after the first leg. But it would help if his greetings were accompanied by a decent glass of wine. What he gave me was paint-stripper.” I used to have a saying that when a player is at his peak, he feels as though he can climb Everest in his slippers. That’s what he was like.” (On Paul Ince)It was a freakish incident. If I tried it 100 or a million times it couldn’t happen again. If I could I would have carried on playing!” There has been a lot of expectation on Manchester City and with the spending they have done, they have to win something. Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour and have to live with it. You can’t do anything about them.” That sanction will come into effect if the Club’s owner, Mr Abdulrahman Al Jasmi, fails to deposit an amount equal to 125% of the Club’s forecast monthly wage bill in a designated Club account, a key term of the Agreed Decision reached between the EFL and the Club in January, by Wednesday 24 May 2023. Only true champions come out and show their worth after defeat- and I expect us to do that”(After being beaten by Arsenal for a second time in the 2006 season) He was certainly full of it, calling me “Boss” and “Big Man” when we had our post-match drink after the first leg. But it would help if his greetings were accompanied by a decent glass of wine. What he gave me was paint-stripper.” (Ferguson’s first impressions of Jose Mourinho)