Sportskeeda End of the Year awards: Top 10 Quotes from 2011

In the second edition of our ‘End of the Year awards” article, we bring you the Top 10 quotes from 2011!

From the Balotelli choronicles, to the Clasico saga, 2011 has bee a grandiloquent year as far as footballing drama is concerned. Be it a controversial statement or a light and easy banter, football fans were treated with plenty of interesting quotes throughout the year. Now, Sportskeeda has taken the liberty to compile the best of those top quotes in 2011!

?1. “I have to train with 10 men [to prepare for the Barcelona semi-final], how to play with 10 men, because I go there with Chelsea, I finish with 10, I go there with Inter, I finish with 10 and I have to train to play with 10 men because it can happen again.”- Jose Mourinho speaking ahead of the much vaunted clash against Barca, making a sarcastic reference towards the ‘favoritism’ claim over Barcelona!

2. “I think that because I am rich, handsome and a great player people are envious of me. I don’t have any other explanation.”- Ronaldo’s emphatic claim after the match against Dinamo Zagreb, in which he was booed. Well Ronny, not many people can rebutt your claims! Epic quote.

3. “I yelled to him: ‘You have no balls!’ And probably worse things than that. And I added: ‘You are sh***ing yourself about Mourinho! You can go to hell!’ I was completely mad. If I were Guardiola, I would have been frightened.”- Ibrahimovic blasting Pep Guardiola in his autobiography, “I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic” . Imagine Guardiola’s reaction at hearing this.

4. “If he really did not see me, I’ll do what I once did with [Diego] Maradona: I’ll send him the video ‘Pele Eterno’ and then he will.”- Yet another line from Pela towards Maradona, relating to the “greatest ever’” debate. Probably we should send both a video of Messi and let that settle the contest right?

5. “In this room he’s the f***ing chief, the f***king boss, and I can never compete with that.”- Guardiola’s message towards Mourinho’s pre-match mind games. One rare moment of rage from Guardiola. Absolutely priceless!

6. “Will you get another Paul Scholes? No. Never. Not in a million years.”- Ryan Giggs paying his tribute to Paul Scholes. From one legend to another, and to sum it up, a legendary quote as well!

7. “He [Wayne Rooney] is a very good player but not the best in Manchester.”- Well I think we all would know who Mario perceives to be the best in Manchester right?

8. “Beckham in Paris will certainly be good for shopping. I love this player but he is not the footballer he was. And if he comes to Paris now it will be to do something other than football.”- Michel Platini got this spot on to be frank. The official statement should read: PSG complete signing of Victoria Beckham for an estimated amount of ‘unlimited shopping in Paris’.

9. “Whenever I watch him play, to me David Luiz looks like he’s being controlled by a 10-year-old in the crowd on a PlayStation.”- A largely controversial quote from ex-Manchester United player and Sky Sports pundit, Gary Neville, but creativity at it’s best! Await the response from Villas Boas below!

10. “You cannot approach a top Brazil central defender, a player of tremendous aspirations and talent, saying he’s commanded by a kid with a PlayStation. That’s ridiculous. He plays for the team with most titles, so be careful with what you’re saying. Nor can you speculate about Chelsea’s dressing room. What does he know about the Chelsea dressing room? … Have you been here? Do you know where Cobham is? You don’t even know how to get here.”- Villas-Boas’ response towards Gary Neville’s claim was a huge one, answering all critical questions that were initially raised by Gary’s quotes. Absolutely vintage!

Honourable mentions:

• “I am more worried about when you have heavy criticism of a young player. I am supposed to take the bullets and absorb them — like a polar bear.” - Arsene Wenger when his managerial position was under threat, early in the season
• “Not while I have got a hole in my bum. He has got his foot on the ground, makes contact with the ball.” – Mick McCarthy on Milijas’ red card vs Arsenal
• “He’s six foot something, fit as a flea, good looking – he’s got to have something wrong with him. Hopefully he’s hung like a hamster – That would make us all feel better. Having said that, me missus has got a pet hamster at home, and his cock’s massive.” - Blackpool manager, Ian Holloway, on Cristiano Ronaldo.

P/S: The quotes have been in arranged in no specific order. So do drop your opinion below on which was the best!