News

“What a moment to be a fan of football and its magic”

JANINE SELF’s weekly round-up of sports and journalism quotes includes the fairytale comeback at the Emirates, a departure from Loftus Road and some colourful evidence at the Leveson Inquiry

Who wrote the script? Thierry Henry's return for Arsenal

“What a moment to be a Gooner. What a moment to be a fan of football and the magic it can bring… as he ran down the touchline towards Arsene Wenger, the years fell away and transported everyone in the stadium back to the days of the Invincibles and the trophies player and manager had won together. And then, when Henry – perhaps the club’s greatest player – reached Wenger, perhaps the club’s greatest manager, he wrapped him in a bear hug on the touchline” Oliver Holt in the Daily Mirror after Henry scored the winner in the cup tie against Leeds on his return to Arsenal.

“I’ve now been fired by Burton Albion, Notts County, Plymouth, Oldham Athletic and Queen’s Park Rangers. They say it is a results business. It is, but only up to a point. At three of those clubs, including QPR, I’d won promotion” Neil Warnock in his Independent column.

“Roberto Martínez could be the greatest coach in the world at Wigan, but he’s not going to win the league” Harry Redknapp on the importance of money for managerial success in football.

“I told David Platt he was now on the bench” Roberto Mancini when asked what his reaction was when he saw Paul Scholes was in the opposition’s squad for the United v City cup tie.

“Great win today. We was brilliant 1st half” Wayne Rooney on Twitter after Sunday’s all-Manchester FA Cup tie.

“These two clubs competing for the right to be ball No30” Peter Drury in ITV commentary, when the audio was working, on the Peterborough v Sunderland tie. Ahhh, the magic of the cup.

“When you are down on the floor and about to compete it is 100 per cent psychological” Louis Smith, the Olympic bronze medal-winning gymnast, on mind over matter as the British men’s team tries to qualify for the London Games this week.

“I have worked out that I probably love about 12 people in the world, I like about 35, I don’t mind about 100, the rest of u, well can jog on” Joey Barton to his 1,035,000 followers on Twitter.

“One thing you need in any team is pace and power” Aidy Boothroyd, apparently unaware that power and pace are two things.

“I like to start off in the morning with a urine test, testing the nutritional value of breakfast, that kind of thing” Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, shares with Radio 4 the secrets of his managerial approach.

Phew! What a scorcher! Kelvin MacKenzie arrives to give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry

“If you publish it in The Sun you get six months’ jail and if you publish it in The Guardian you get a Pulitzer prize” Kelvin MacKenzie, the former Sun editor, gives his view on the differing attitudes to newspapers, during his evidence to the Leveson Inquiry.

“Every time we write about the rich and famous we get a very threatening bullying letter from a law firm – and I’m thinking of one law firm in particular – that is simply outrageous. If you do not capitulate before noon on Saturday you will be hung at dawn on Sunday. This can have a chilling effect because you are aware of the cost of a libel action” Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, in evdience to the Leveson Inquiry.

“Please note that comments have been switched off for legal reasons” Guardian‘s live blog on the Leveson Inquiry.

“Journalists try to get things right. People tell you lies. People think it’s the truth … it is a massively difficult problem particularly being a print journalist today” MacKenzie.

“Kevin Pietersen is on his 3rd IPL team, moving from Bangalore Paintstrippers to Deccan Press Barons and now Delhi Bellies #replicashirtarama” Patrick Kidd‘s wit via Twitter.

“There’s some little Indian somewhere running around in a Salisbury City No6 training kit” Chris Giles, who spent six months back-packing around Asia, but was back in time to captain his side at their FA Cup third round trip to Sheffield United.

“I didn’t want to face people. All I was thinking about when I was on the field was retiring. I don’t think I was ever the same player after that” Andrew Flintoff on his fight against depression.

“If Henry is still in the Arsenal team when we play them next month we’ll have to bring back Graham Roberts or Paul Miller out of retirement to kick him” Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager, on Thierry Henry.

“Mark Cavendish’s achievements are admirable, but considering Balotelli’s first 12 months in England have taken in pyrotechnics, a goal deliberately scored with the right shoulder, a role as not so secret Santa in Manchester town centre and the quote of the season (after he was stopped by a policeman and asked why he had £5,000 in his pocket, replying ‘Because I am rich’) it is not only the women that can claim to have been gypped at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards” Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail on Manchester City’s eccentric Mario Balotelli.

“Manny Pacquiao I’m calling you out, let’s fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see. My jail sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up punk” Floyd Mayweather throws down the gauntlet on Twitter.