QUOTE..UNQUOTE

We take a look at what some of the managers were saying about their games at the weekend.

PREMIER LEAGUE

"Ryan Giggs is so important to us, he made the goals. I felt his intelligence would give them a bit of bother. Nani did pretty well but Ryan gives us something else. There is a long way to go. I wish we were saying this at the beginning of May but it has been a good day for us because we are top." Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson praises his evergreen midfield veteran.

"For me, Scholes as the best player on the pitch by a country mile and, when Giggs came on, he set up two. They are old school players with so much experience and so much ability. We didn't stand a chance against them." Stoke chief Tony Pulis is also impressed by United's old guard.

"Wigan played better than us and it was the right result. We have to look forward. Wigan played well, surprised us and deserved to win the game." An honest appraisal from Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti.

"The penalty and sending-off were clear decisions and Phil Dowd is a very experienced referee. It would be very unfair to say we beat a great Chelsea side because of that decision. This was a very complete performance." Roberto Martinez is proud of his Wigan team.

"Fernando Torres was very good but he can still do better. In the last three games, he's been really good. His movement is there and so is the mentality. It was a massive figure to spend on him but we knew he has the quality, potential and he was at an age where he could do more in the future." Rafa Benitez explains it is money well spent on hat-trick hero Torres.

"There's a lot of pain flying around now. A lot of it will come my way. It will be an uncomfortable week for one or two people - myself included. I can't keep giving harsh words to the players. The penny has to drop for them eventually." Phil Brown prepares to don a tin hat for the brickbats that will come his way.

"We have to get through it. The players have been excellent so far, I can't see any reason why they shouldn't keep on going. We created a lot of chances but should have finished better." Paul Hart refuses to be downhearted at Portsmouth.

"Louis Saha is the reason Louis getting going. He has worked hard and looked after himself in the summer. His goals are the reward for the effort he has put in and there are more goals to come for him." David Moyes praises Everton matchwinner Saha.

"It looked as if we were in a trance after the equaliser. Some of them thought the game was already over. These are harsh lessons the players are suffering and have to learn from in the Premier League." Alex McLeish is upset with his Birmingham players.

"It is great for Fabio Capello to come to a game like this when the big four are playing. It is great for Gary Cahill knowing that if he keeps putting in the performances, the England manager will come along to watch." Gary Megson is pleased to see a certain Italian in the crowd at St Andrew's.

"Vito Mannone is young with talent and he showed that talent today. It is one game but it is good for his confidence." Arsene Wenger enjoyed his keeper's performance at Fulham.

"I thought we played well. I was hopeful we would keep a clean sheet and get something from the game. It was a blow when they scored but we came back well and did our best. We came across a keeper in splendid form and a very determined Arsenal team." Roy Hodgson also praises Mannone.

"It was the toughest selection decision I've ever really had to make. Obviously Crouchie had scored a great hat-trick up at Preston and a lot of people thought he should start the game and Robbie Keane be left on the bench. But I made my choice - that's why I'm the manager and it worked out well for us." Harry Redknapp knows he has an embarrassment of riches in attack at Tottenham.

"The scoreline wasn't a fair reflection. It's hurtful but we'll just have to take our medicine. I'm not saying we would have won but there's no doubt in my mind, just like a lot of small-town teams who come up against big clubs, the big decisions didn't go our way." Owen Coyle feels hard done to at White Hart Lane.

"It is a great day. It is why I do this Godforsaken job sometimes. I can have a really good night tonight." Sam Allardyce enjoys Blackburn's win.

"There are new directives out now - something to do with if yuor hand is in an unnatural position, you can be judged to have handled the ball. I was just asking the referee for clarification. If Richard Dunne puts his head in and is hit in the head with the lad's foot so high, would it have been a free kick?" Martin O'Neill has his own views on the penalty that sent Aston Villa spinning to defeat.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I usually last a couple of minutes here before the abuse starts but it was minus 30 seconds today. They take it well and that is why I waved to them at the end." Neil Warnock has the last laugh on the West Brom fans.

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