Quotes from the World of Sports - 2018
From Zlatan Ibrahimovic's age to Gautam Gambhir's honesty to Mourinho-Conte feud, here are some of the best lines spoken in the world of sport in 2018.
Published : Dec 31, 2018 19:24 IST
"We have money for sardines and I'm thinking lobster. I will do my best to try and bring in the best players. I will look to the lobsters and sea bass, but if not we must buy sardines. But sometimes the sardines can win games." - Swansea manager Carlos Carvalhal on the club's transfer moderate budget for the January transfer window. |
"Because I don't behave as a clown on the touchline, it means that I lost my passion. I prefer to behave the way I am doing it, much more mature, better for my team and myself, I don't think you have to behave like a crazy guy on the touchline to have that passion." - Jose Mourinho seemed to either take aim at Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp or the former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte. You can be the judge of it. |
"I feel young. I feel like Benjamin Button. I was born old, and I will die young." - 36-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic after signing for MLS club LA Galaxy. |
"It was one of the most poignant moments of the night. To receive applause from a stadium like this, which has been graced by great players, is a unique experience. When I was a kid, I liked Juventus and the fact that their fans have clapped me will stay with me." - Cristiano Ronaldo was moved by Juventus' supporters applause after his bicycle kick at the Allianz Stadium. He moved to Juventus the following summer. |
"This is more than just watching football, it's a way of life. It's caring about the beautiful game, about the values we cherish, and as well, that something that goes for all our bodies in every cell of our bodies. We care, we worry, we are desperate, but when you come here, the theatre of dreams we realise what it means." - Arsene Wenger describing Arsenal's philosophy at the end of the final match of his 22-year-long reign as the club's manager. |
"For sure, in the racing world he will be missed, and within the racing the world he has been a really big part of it and is one of the greatest drivers that have ever been here. I would say it is a shame that he is not as decorated as his ability deserves, but sport is a very interesting machine and it's not just about being a great driver." - Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to Fernando Alonso, who retired this season. |
'"I never play my best tennis here, even if I've done quarterfinals, semifinals. Maybe it's the noise in the crowd, the city is busy. 'It's everything together. I'm a quiet person, so maybe I like the smaller places. I've done great results here. I'm not complaining. I just mean that I don't really feel my game at 100% when I step on the court here." - Simona Halep after becoming the first top seed to lose in the opening round of the US Open. |
"Alize Cornet came back to court after 10 minute heat break. Had her fresh shirt on back to front. Changed at back of court. Got a code violation. Unsportsmanlike conduct..... But the men can change shirts on court." - Judy Murray, mother of Andy Murray, criticises the 'sexist ruling' at the US Open. |
"You get guys that are good. Then you get guys that are excellent. And then you get AB de Villiers." - Dale Steyn on the retirement of his former international teammate AB de Villiers. |
"There is plenty of room for banter or what we call sledging. If I play Uno with my daughter, there's lots of banter, we sledge each other, but we don't abuse each other." - In the wake of Australian cricket's ethics review, new coach Justin Langer said the team will not move away from sledging. |
"I know he's your captain but you can't seriously like him as a bloke." - Ouch! Tim Paine was probably trying to get a message across to India skipper Virat Kohli through Murali Vijay. |
"We have this yellow tape in our kit and it is connected to some padding, but the sticky stuff is very sticky and I felt like it could be used to collect some stuff from the side of the pitch, and I have been charged with ball-tampering." - Cameron Bancroft gave more details on the back tampering incident which rocked Australian cricket. |
"In the back of my mind I suppose there is a tiny ray of hope that I may one day be given the privilege of playing for my country again, but I am resigned to the fact that that may never happen." - Banned cricketer David Warner fears he may never play for Australia again. |
"I was never going to be the best player the world has ever seen but one thing I can be proud of is that I genuinely believe I have become the best player that I could have become." - Alastair Cook after his international retirement. |
"It will be nice to get someone in at first slip who can actually hold on to a few. Who knows how many wickets I could have got if he could catch!?" - James Anderson, Cook's best mate, took a cheeky dig at the retiring cricketer. |
"I'd like to see Jimmy go and get 600 and then whether he wants to try and knock off one of these dodgy spinners that are still at the top of the tree." - Glenn McGrath after Anderson broke his record for most Test wickets for a fast bowler. |
"You'll need to ask why state-owned clubs exist as they are inflating the market when they buy players." - LaLiga president Javier Tebas on Inter Milan's bid to sign Real Madrid's Luka Modric. The Serie A club later said it will be suing Tebas. |
“They make limits for me. 'Eat this, don’t eat this, sleep now…' It’s a bit too much.” - India's teenage shooting sensation Manu Bhaker said she had asked her parents to not accompany her to major tournaments as she struggles to adapt with her new found fame. |
"The only thing I want to say to end the story is that yes, I made mistakes in the past on the touchline. Yes, I will make less but I think I will still make a few. What never happened to me - and will never happen - is to be suspended for match-fixing. That never happened to me and will never happen." - Jose Mourinho seemed to rekindle the feud with Antonio Conte rather than 'end the story' with another jibe at the Italian. |
"After almost three decades dedicated to football, I say goodbye to my biggest dream, dream come true. I did what I most loved professionally for 20 years, and 10 as a basic training." - Ronaldinho confirmed his retirement in an emotional statement. |
"I can't tolerate wrong things and artificiality. A lot of people around me say that I could have been diplomatic but that is simply not me. Yes, I made many enemies but I slept in peace." - Gautam Gambhir on the penultimate day of his career. |
“I'm never going to get that question again. Now I'm just waiting for the question, ‘When are you going to win the second one?’ I think being a new Grand Slam champion and world No.1 sounds pretty good. I'm very excited for that. It's a dream come true.” - Caroline Wozniacki is relieved that she won't have to see the 'slamless World no. 1' tag again after winning the Australian Open 2018. |
"I couldn't control my tears having given it my all for 20 years. It seemed my efforts had no value." - Mithali Raj on her exclusion from the World T20 semifinals against Australia by then coach Ramesh Powar. |
"Messi plays another sport. For Messi to score three goals (in any given game) is normal." - Carlos Tevez on the extraordinary abilities of his compatriot Lionel Messi. |