Quotes of the week

"Jesper has never been fit during my time at the club

"Jesper has never been fit during my time at the club. Maybe he has been fit enough to lift a glass of milk, but not enough to play top-level football."

- Look away Chelsea die-hards - Co Andriaanse's verdict on his former player Jesper Gronkjaer . . . for whom Chelsea have just paid £7.8 million.

"It could lead to the end of international football as we know it. The next thing you know we might be trying to turn Ryan Giggs into an Englishman because we can't find a decent left-sided player."

- Terry Venables shows that he is no sense bitter at all over the appointment of Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager.

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"I had the tattoo done because of my love for England, but now I'll either cover it up or have it surgically removed. I'll certainly never watch England again as long as a foreigner is in charge."

- Birmingham City player Martin Grainger on plans to have his Three Lions tattoo removed from his arm - presumably this means he's not available for selection.

"My main aim is to train and play well for Newcastle United. I am concentrating hard on this but it is not easy because there are so many beautiful girls in the town."

- Clarence Acuna endears himself to one half of the Toon.

"I know some people say footballers have terrible taste in music, but I would dispute that. In the car at the moment I've got The Corrs, Cher, Phil Collins, Shania Twain and Rod Stewart."

- Sky Sports' Andy Gray . . . we're saying nothing.

"Always after a game the questions were `Wasn't David fantastic? Isn't he wonderful? What a star'!"

- David Ginola explains why George Graham wanted him out of Spurs. We're beginning to take Georgie's side in this row.

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan

Mary Hannigan is a sports writer with The Irish Times