We have had new league champions, unbeatable European champions, legends who still keep on going and transfers that shook the world. We also have had funny incidents, controversial incidents and well, some other unexplainable incidents in the past twelve months. So, here is a look at the best of the year that passed by in quotes.
The Pirlo Penalty
There is a reason why people all around the world call Andrea Pirlo as l’architetto (The Architect). His arrogant yet beautiful chip in the penalty shootout against England was one very important incident that took place in 2012.
Pirlo chips the ball into Hart’s net
“I’ve no idea how Joe Hart will prepare for penalties.”
– Gigi Buffon
“Hart looked very confident in himself, so I thought we had to bring him down a peg or two.”
– Pirlo
And after England lost the match, quotes still kept coming.
“Rooney was kept quiet by us, but also by England’s tactics.”
– Leonardo Bonucci
The Crazy Man Part 1 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
“Gerrard has good skills, unlike normal English players”
– Zlatan taking a dig at the English men.
“I don’t give a s**t, I’m going on holiday.”
– Zlatan responding to a journalist after he asks him who are the favourites to the win the European Trophy after Sweden were knocked out.
“That’s how it is with the English: if you score against them you’re a good player; if you don’t, you’re not.”
– After his wonder goal against England.
The Crazy Man Part 2 – Mario Balotelli
Mario Balotelli – Always a delight!
You could make a separate thread for all the crazy quotes of Balotelli but here are his top ones from 2012.
“They didn’t get angry because I was booked for taking my shirt off, but they saw my physique and got jealous!”
– After his booking in the Euro Semifinals.
“People say I should be a tutor to Balotelli? Well, in that case we’re in big trouble! Who is going to look after me, then?”-
Cassano about Mario.
“I told Balotelli that if he played with me 10 years ago, I would have maybe punched him in the head on a daily basis. I don’t speak with him every day, otherwise I would need a psychologist.”
– Roberto Mancini about Mario.
“When I score, I don’t celebrate because it’s my job. When a postman delivers letters, does he celebrate?”
– Well, only he can come up with these.
Ouch..That hurt!
“Welcome to the Third Division.”
– Peterhead FC fans welcome Rangers fans to the Third Division of Scottish Football after Rangers were permitted to enter only the Third Division due to liquidation.
“You’re just a fat Spanish waiter.”
– Chelsea Fans singing against Rafa Benitez’s appointment as their Interim Manager.
Rafa Benitez
“If Ryan Giggs’s wife divorced him and took half of everything, how would you feel about her having six more Premier League medals than you?”
“It was undeserved. More than that, actually, it was a farce. [Chelsea] may call themselves the best team in Europe, but this will go down in football history as an accident.”
– A German Newspaper on Chelsea’s CL win against Bayern.
On-the-court action
2012 was also the year of many on-the-court action. Not the tennis court but the actual judicial court.
Too much Football action in judicial courts
“My mum dated a guy from Liverpool. The Liverpool fans made up a song that she ‘loves Scouse c*ck’”
“How can you call me a c**t? You shagged your team-mate’s missus. You’re the c**t.”
– Rio Ferfninand on John Terry.
“I’m a fantastic football manager. I’m not a hard-headed businessman.”
– Harry Redknapp in court during his Tax evasion charges hearing.
Turbulent year for Chelsea
Despite winning the Champions League for the first time in their history, Chelsea didn’t really enjoy it for that long. The men who won it for them – both Didier Drogba and Roberto di Matteo are now not at the club.
Didier Drogba
“It was written, I think, a long time ago.”
– Drogba after the win.
“At Chelsea, a sacking is just another day at the office.”
– AVB to successor Roberto di Matteo.
‘We have got through the first round and now it’s our turn to, as they say in our country, dance with the ugliest – and that’s Chelsea”
– Monterrey’s coach on Chelsea (Club World Championship team)
“Wait..WTF..They said that?” quotes
“He plays like he’s being controlled by a ten year old on the Playstation.”
– Gary Neville on David Luiz
“If I could, I’d vote for myself. I am what I am, and I’m happy with that. Being too humble isn’t good. In Portugal we say that too much humility is vanity.”
“So then he tells me to keep on warming up and treats me like a dog.”
– Tevez on Mancini.
Reporter: “Do you know how many managers City have had in your 25 years with United?”Ferguson: “Fourteen, but I wish it was 15.”
– A rather not-so-subtle dig at Mancini.
“People dislike Ronaldo because he’s a great player, good-looking and has sex with all the ladies. They get jealous. The only bad thing about Ronaldo’s life is Messi.
– Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Cristiano Ronaldo
“He could have been killed.”
– Sir Alex Ferguson after Ashley Williams hit Robin van Persie with a ball.
“Sometimes you want Obertan to open his legs and do something a bit exciting”
– Alan Pardew frustrated by Gabby Obertan.
‘England are up to 3rd in FIFA world rankings. Perhaps they looked at GB on the Olympics medal table and got confused.’
– Gary Linekar.
Swindon manager Paolo di Canio subbed his goal keeper just 21 minutes into the match. When questioned about that, he went on and on and ranted for almost 5 minutes. If I include the entire rant as text, it will take you at least 5 minutes to read it. So, here is the video. It begins with “”He was one of the worst players I have ever seen in a football match.”
Lionel Messi and the quote wagon
Lionel Messi
“I am more worried about being a good person than being the best football player in the world. When all this is over, what are you left with?”
“I am not a tinpot dictator. I don’t care what people say; my team-mates know that I am not like that; they know full well what I am really like”
– Messi hits out on his critics.
“Without Messi, Barca is the best team. And with him, they are in another galaxy.”
– Robin Dutt
“He deserves the admiration of any sportsman. He is incomparable, a one-off. There is no other player who can make such a difference — he’ll break all the records.”
– Xavi.
The dramatic EPL final day when Manchester turned blue
City wins the EPL title in the most dramatic fashion ever!
“It’s very difficult to compliment City. But we’re not stupid. They won it.”
– Sir Bobby Charlton
“This is an incredible moment. We wanted this title and we deserve to win this title. I have never seen anything like it. Five minutes from the end I didn’t think we could win this game. It was a crazy season and a crazy last few minutes.”
– Roberto Mancini
Miracles do happen in Manchester. Only this time it’s on this side of the road.”
– Vincent Kompany
And to sum it all up, the great Martin Tyler’s quote which is still very much lingering in all our ears
“I swear you will never see anything like this ever again. But watch it. Drink it in”
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