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‘I just hope my mum taped the goal’

A sporting week in quotes: Danny Rose sparked Tottenham’s week, plus Denis Law on Sir Alex, Lionel Messi on Fabregas, and John Higgins on the pressures of being a snooker champion. By IAN COLE

“I just didn’t know what to do. I ran one way, then another, looking for my dad. All of a sudden they were kicking off. I’d like to think it will be up there when it comes to goal of the season. I hope my mum taped it” Danny Rose, who scored with a 30-yard volley on debut to set up Spurs’ win against Arsenal.

“When he came here Tony Adams, who had seen him in Holland, said we’d signed the best goalkeeper in the world. He’s had a couple of dickie moments but since then has got better and better” Harry Redknapp on the other Spurs hero of the week, Heurelho Gomes.

“Cesc has a place for Arsenal in his heart, but he has Barcelona in his blood. I don’t know when, but I expect him to be my Barcelona team mate at some point” Lionel Messi on Cesc Fabregas.

“I cannot believe that you, as journalists, question a player’s contract. No one points a gun to your head when you sign a contract. I respect my contract, but every week I get asked questions about players who are under contract” Arsene Wenger on the Fabregas situation.

“I don’t believe a contract means anything these days. If you are offered £100,000 a week to go to another club you go, whatever your contract says” Robbie Savage, Derby midfielder and Radio 5Live pundit.

“He will be 100 before he packs it in. You lot have another 30 years of him. You press guys should look forward to that. It’s his life” Denis Law laughs off suggestions that United’s 1-0 derby win at City might have been Sir Alex Ferguson’s last as manager.

“I would like to think it is true when people say it is good news, but my experience is that it is better to wait and see” Rafa Benitez gives a cautious welcome as the arrival of Liverpool’s new chairman Martin Broughton heralds the end of the George Gillett-Tom Hicks era.

“It is unthinkable that I would score a goal that will send West Ham to relegation. Their supporters feel football. They are passionate. They invested great support in me. I wish to play again for West Ham before I finish my career. I have some unfinished business there” Carlos Tevez lines up a retirement home in London’s East End ahead of a potentially decisive last game of the season at Upton Park to contend with.

“Alcohol has always been banned from all our HQs. That goes for me and my staff too. We won’t need to go to a health farm to detox, we’ll do it in-house” Fabio Capello, the England manager, rewrites the rules for international call-ups.

“You pay £15,000 every two or three months to keep yourself safe. That may not seem a lot of money to a Premier League footballer but it’s still a lot of money. And they pay it. You would” An unnamed gang member reveals to BBC World Service that a Premier League player is paying protection money.

“Your hands are shaking like a leaf. You’ve not slept the night before because you’ve been frightened of missing the 10am start. You wake up at two o’clock, four o’clock, six o’clock. At seven or half-past you have to get ready, but you can’t eat breakfast because your throat is closing up with the tension” John Higgins on what it’s like to be defending snooker world champion and play the opening shot of this year’s tournament.

“When I shout, a lot people ask me if that was why I lost. If I don’t say anything and lose, people say I’m flat. Fact is, I was rubbish” Andy Murray, after losing 6-1 6-2 to world No33 Philipp Kohlschreiber in the Monte Carlo Open.

“I don’t think there’s any friction, but it’s not all smiles and happiness. It’s a big change, so it affects all of us. He’s happy, busy doing what he’s doing” Lewis Hamilton, having dropped his father, Anthony, as manager at the start of the F1 season hints at a growing rift as his dad misses his son’s second place in the Chinese Grand Prix.


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