“The chairmen of the largest companies in the world can cancel an appointment or move a board meeting; a manager cannot change the date of a game. In the combined 42 years that Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have managed in English football, I can only remember one occasion when Sir Alex did not attend a Manchester United game.” WorldYearsI CanRememberMovingGamesUnitedCompanyFootballMeetingsManagersOccasionsBoardsChairmanAlexManchesterAppointmentsManchester UnitedFergusonBoard MeetingsEnglish FootballWengerSir Alex Ferguson Author:Howard Wilkinson
“What United have got that Chelsea haven't is Paul Scholes. I think he is different to anything else in English football.” ThinkingDifferentUnitedHavensFootballChelseaScholesPaul ScholesEnglish Football Author:Kevin Keegan
“Is this good for English football? In the short run, Chelsea's rise has broken up what was turning into an irritating Arsenal-Manchester United duopoly. But football leagues (look at Scotland, look at Spain) can get along OK with duopolies. A monopoly, however, is a disaster. Everyone else in the Premiership has to operate on some kind of business footing, and the terror stalking Highbury and Old Trafford is that Chelsea will be immune from financial discipline forever.” LooksKindRunningUnitedForeverFootballBrokenDisciplineFinancialTerrorDisasterSoccerAnalysisLeagueScotlandSpainMonopolyImmuneStalkingManchesterArsenalIrritatingChelseaManchester UnitedBroken UpEnglish FootballFinancial Discipline Author:Matthew Engel
“However good an English team is, they will always have an additional advantage. It is that European players know that their English opponents will come at them in the belief they will win, and they can always be guaranteed never to stop fighting. They have a natural aggression that they are born with. If it ever goes, English football will lose its most valuable dimension.” IfsKnowsFightingWinningBeliefBornLosesNaturalPlayerTeamFootballAdvantageValuableSoccerAnalysisOpponentsDimensionsAggressionEnglish Football Author:Johan Cruijff
“When Im in town on Sundays, I sometimes go down to the Central Bar in the East Village to watch English football. But my natural inclination now is to get in the car with my wife and kids and get out of town.” SometimesKidsNaturalWatchesWifeCarFootballTownsMy WifeEastBarsSundayVillageInclinationEnglish FootballMy Wife And KidsEast Village Author:Joe Scarborough
“In my first season I was learning about English football in a new team. I scored 13 which isn't bad, but I think I can do better.” ThinkingFirstsI CanCan DoTeamFootballSeasonsSpainEnglish Football Author:Luis Garcia
“Doping in English football is restricted to lager and baked beans with sausages. After which the players take to the field, belching and farting. English football culture is one of pure, intense competition, and that's why I have always preferred it to Italy.” CulturePlayerFieldsFootballPureCompetitionIntenseBeansSausageDopingEnglish FootballLagerBelchingBaked Beans Author:Paolo Di Canio
“It was the proudest moment of my career to lead my team out at the home of English football. I never, ever dreamt that would happen!” MomentsHomeHappensCareersTeamFootballProudest MomentsEnglish Football Author:Casey Stoney
“You see how Spanish, Italians, Portuguese play football. I don't say they are perfect, I say English football has a few things to learn from them in the same way they have a lot of things to learn from English football.” WayPlayPerfectFootballPortugueseEnglish Football Author:Jose Mourinho
“I feel I have a lot to learn from English football and I am completely open to good influences in my way of thinking. But I also have things to give them.” ThinkingWayGivingFeelsInfluenceFootballMy WayWay Of ThinkingEnglish FootballGood Influences Author:Jose Mourinho