since we all seem to be interested in what other people are saying i thought id just post this from the uefa.com website
http://www.uefa.com/footballcentral/news/Kind=4/newsId=134109.html
The year in quotes
Monday, 22 December 2003
By Simon Hart
If footballers have a capacity to enthrall us with their actions on the pitch, they can also prove pretty entertaining with their words off it. uefa.com picks out the quotes of the year.
If I did it a thousand times, a million times even, I couldn't do it again. If I could I'd still be playing - Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson on the infamous kick which bounced a boot off David Beckham's eyebrow following an FA Cup defeat by Arsenal FC.
I can't wait to play with my real name on my back - The man formerly known as Eriberto, AC Chievo Verona's Luciano (now with FC Internazionale), prepares to return to action following his ban for possessing a false passport.
The difference between Paolo and me is that I've always had to apply myself a lot while he has natural talent - Alessandro Costacurta pays tribute to AC Milan team-mate Paolo Maldini after the latter's 500th Serie A match.
When they served it to me I thought it was chicken - Former England midfield player Paul Gascoigne discovers the pleasure of eating bat during his short-lived spell with Chinese side Gansu Tianma.
I don't think this means Milan are a better team than us, just that they were better today. We have just won the Italian championship again, and over the past two seasons have been 27 points better than them. So I think that speaks for itself - Juventus FC coach Marcello Lippi finds defeat in the UEFA Champions Leage final difficult to accept.
Eriberto is feeling himself at last
A lion never dies - A banner in Yaoundé cathedral pays tribute to Cameroon midfield player Marc-Vivien Foé, who died while playing for his country in June.
Laporta pulled out a toffee to get everyone's hopes up but we've reached the end of the campaign and he doesn't actually have the sweet - Lluis Bassat, the losing candidate in FC Barcelona's presidential election, on Joan Laporta's promise to sign David Beckham.
A chimps' tea party - FC Bayern München general manager Uli Hoeness is scathing about the media circus surrounding Beckham's arrival at Real Madrid CF.
Louts and filthy pigs turn into Renaissance princes with a ball at their feet, so we shouldn't be surprised when a delicate sex symbol becomes a construction worker. We were expecting a clothes horse avoiding getting kicked, a pretty boy worried about his ponytail. But Beckham is tireless - Juanma Trueba, a journalist with Madrid sports daily AS, reflects the prevailing opinion in Spain about Beckham.
Yes, I know what people are saying. But there are lots of rich, young people in Russia. We don't live that long so we earn it and spend it. I'm realising my dream of owning a top football club. Some will doubt my motives, others will think I am crazy - Chelsea FC's new Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, explains why he bought the London club.
If there is someone who, for whatever reason, needs to have his money placed somewhere, he buys a team and suddenly they are a candidate to win the Champions League. I don't think football should be about that, but at the moment it is - UEFA's outgoing Chief Executive, Gerhard Aigner, on the Chelsea revolution.
Of course I would have preferred it if he had bought a Russian club instead, especially since he has made all his money in Russia by using the country's natural wealth, its oil, gas and other resources - Viacheslav Koloskov, president of the Russian Football Union, sounds less than enthusiastic too.
This does not mean they were the better team. That is scoreboard journalism - Co Adriaanse stands his ground despite having just seen his side AZ Alkmaar lose 5-1 at home to Roda JC.
It doesn't matter, I will sign a Danish girl instead. Women are more intelligent than men in general. They are more methodical and precise. I have seen girls playing much better than men. We have signed teenagers and they became great players. We can do the same things with girls - AC Perugia president Luciano Gaucci is undaunted after failing to sign two Swedish women footballers.
We will argue also with foreign referees. Italians are like that. We always want to discuss and argue and we are always scared that somebody is cheating us - Italy coach Giovannio Trapattoni on the possibility that foreign referees could take charge of Serie A matches.
When Johan Cruyff wants to be entertained, he should go to the cinema - Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti responds to criticism from the Dutch legend about the manner of his side's 1-0 Champions League win at AFC Ajax.
It is so easy for him to shout all kinds of things from his ivory tower. But let me just say this, throughout his career he has twice had the chance to become Dutch national team coach. Twice he has refused. I on the other hand said yes to the job twice. So what does that say about a person? - Another man irked by a Cruyff comment, Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat.
My son is not a piece of meat. He is not for sale, mister! My son is no merchandise. People get real, he is only still 17 years old - Papa Pierre Kompany responding to speculation about the future of his son Vincent following some impressive performances for RSC Anderlecht.
Even his name is right. It is the most fabulous name. It could be the name of the lead character in an Elvis Presley movie. It is a combination of John Wayne and Mickey Rooney. A mixture of the guy who rides in on his trusty horse and saves the town-folk and an all- singing, all-dancing entertainer. When I talk to people from the US that is how I describe him - think of a combination of John Wayne and Mickey Rooney - Another man excited by a talented teenager, the Everton FC owner and theatre impresario Bill Kenwright on his club's 18-year-old England striker, Wayne Rooney.
Football at this level is fake, it's all a pretend world. We get paid millions to play a game, but we are just pawns who sell ourselves to keep this system going. I am not just Almeyda the footballer. I am Almeyda the person, the father, the farmer. That's who I am. And every day that passes and I stay in football, I move away from what I am -Inter's Argentinian midfield player Matías Almeyda explains why he plans to walk away from football next summer.
http://www.uefa.com/footballcentral/news/Kind=4/newsId=134109.html
The year in quotes
Monday, 22 December 2003
By Simon Hart
If footballers have a capacity to enthrall us with their actions on the pitch, they can also prove pretty entertaining with their words off it. uefa.com picks out the quotes of the year.
If I did it a thousand times, a million times even, I couldn't do it again. If I could I'd still be playing - Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson on the infamous kick which bounced a boot off David Beckham's eyebrow following an FA Cup defeat by Arsenal FC.
I can't wait to play with my real name on my back - The man formerly known as Eriberto, AC Chievo Verona's Luciano (now with FC Internazionale), prepares to return to action following his ban for possessing a false passport.
The difference between Paolo and me is that I've always had to apply myself a lot while he has natural talent - Alessandro Costacurta pays tribute to AC Milan team-mate Paolo Maldini after the latter's 500th Serie A match.
When they served it to me I thought it was chicken - Former England midfield player Paul Gascoigne discovers the pleasure of eating bat during his short-lived spell with Chinese side Gansu Tianma.
I don't think this means Milan are a better team than us, just that they were better today. We have just won the Italian championship again, and over the past two seasons have been 27 points better than them. So I think that speaks for itself - Juventus FC coach Marcello Lippi finds defeat in the UEFA Champions Leage final difficult to accept.
Eriberto is feeling himself at last
A lion never dies - A banner in Yaoundé cathedral pays tribute to Cameroon midfield player Marc-Vivien Foé, who died while playing for his country in June.
Laporta pulled out a toffee to get everyone's hopes up but we've reached the end of the campaign and he doesn't actually have the sweet - Lluis Bassat, the losing candidate in FC Barcelona's presidential election, on Joan Laporta's promise to sign David Beckham.
A chimps' tea party - FC Bayern München general manager Uli Hoeness is scathing about the media circus surrounding Beckham's arrival at Real Madrid CF.
Louts and filthy pigs turn into Renaissance princes with a ball at their feet, so we shouldn't be surprised when a delicate sex symbol becomes a construction worker. We were expecting a clothes horse avoiding getting kicked, a pretty boy worried about his ponytail. But Beckham is tireless - Juanma Trueba, a journalist with Madrid sports daily AS, reflects the prevailing opinion in Spain about Beckham.
Yes, I know what people are saying. But there are lots of rich, young people in Russia. We don't live that long so we earn it and spend it. I'm realising my dream of owning a top football club. Some will doubt my motives, others will think I am crazy - Chelsea FC's new Russian owner, Roman Abramovich, explains why he bought the London club.
If there is someone who, for whatever reason, needs to have his money placed somewhere, he buys a team and suddenly they are a candidate to win the Champions League. I don't think football should be about that, but at the moment it is - UEFA's outgoing Chief Executive, Gerhard Aigner, on the Chelsea revolution.
Of course I would have preferred it if he had bought a Russian club instead, especially since he has made all his money in Russia by using the country's natural wealth, its oil, gas and other resources - Viacheslav Koloskov, president of the Russian Football Union, sounds less than enthusiastic too.
This does not mean they were the better team. That is scoreboard journalism - Co Adriaanse stands his ground despite having just seen his side AZ Alkmaar lose 5-1 at home to Roda JC.
It doesn't matter, I will sign a Danish girl instead. Women are more intelligent than men in general. They are more methodical and precise. I have seen girls playing much better than men. We have signed teenagers and they became great players. We can do the same things with girls - AC Perugia president Luciano Gaucci is undaunted after failing to sign two Swedish women footballers.
We will argue also with foreign referees. Italians are like that. We always want to discuss and argue and we are always scared that somebody is cheating us - Italy coach Giovannio Trapattoni on the possibility that foreign referees could take charge of Serie A matches.
When Johan Cruyff wants to be entertained, he should go to the cinema - Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti responds to criticism from the Dutch legend about the manner of his side's 1-0 Champions League win at AFC Ajax.
It is so easy for him to shout all kinds of things from his ivory tower. But let me just say this, throughout his career he has twice had the chance to become Dutch national team coach. Twice he has refused. I on the other hand said yes to the job twice. So what does that say about a person? - Another man irked by a Cruyff comment, Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat.
My son is not a piece of meat. He is not for sale, mister! My son is no merchandise. People get real, he is only still 17 years old - Papa Pierre Kompany responding to speculation about the future of his son Vincent following some impressive performances for RSC Anderlecht.
Even his name is right. It is the most fabulous name. It could be the name of the lead character in an Elvis Presley movie. It is a combination of John Wayne and Mickey Rooney. A mixture of the guy who rides in on his trusty horse and saves the town-folk and an all- singing, all-dancing entertainer. When I talk to people from the US that is how I describe him - think of a combination of John Wayne and Mickey Rooney - Another man excited by a talented teenager, the Everton FC owner and theatre impresario Bill Kenwright on his club's 18-year-old England striker, Wayne Rooney.
Football at this level is fake, it's all a pretend world. We get paid millions to play a game, but we are just pawns who sell ourselves to keep this system going. I am not just Almeyda the footballer. I am Almeyda the person, the father, the farmer. That's who I am. And every day that passes and I stay in football, I move away from what I am -Inter's Argentinian midfield player Matías Almeyda explains why he plans to walk away from football next summer.
