Successful clubs are not shaped in boardrooms or by the whims of the crowd

Brendan Rodgers dramatically emerged as the No 1 contender to become Liverpool manager last night and, as the prospects of Roberto Martinez taking the position receded, there is a possibility that the Swansea City manager could be appointed by the end of the week.

Gus Poyet has urged Roman Abramovich to hand Roberto Di Matteo the Chelsea job full time, dubbing the decision a complete no-brainer.

Chelsea will announce this morning that two more of the XI who started Saturday's Champions League final will leave the club, as the European champions begin another summer of rebuilding. Like that of Didier Drogba, the names of Salomon Kalou and Jose Bosingwa will not feature on the list of retained players which has to be submitted to the Premier League by all clubs today.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho believes his team have played the best football in the world this year - and says they will only get better.

Jose Mourinho has signed a new contract with Real Madrid which ties him to the club until 2016, the Primera Division champions have announced.

No, you don't have to be cowering behind the barricades of Arsenal or Tottenham choking on your angst to grasp that Chelsea's Champions League glory is one of the most outrageous assaults on the laws of probability in the game's history.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho claims Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to be named ahead of Lionel Messi as the next FIFA world player of the year.

Wolves owner Steve Morgan believes new manager Stale Solbakken has the pedigree to bring success to the midlands club and insists the Norwegian's appointment is astute rather than brave.

Italian champions Juventus have expressed an interest in signing Arsenal striker Robin van Persie this summer.

FA Cup and Champions League wins would dwarf anything the midfielder has achieved

Win a bottle of wine

Defender Jamie Carragher thinks the intensity of the rivalry between Liverpool and Chelsea has faded slightly in recent years but that will not prevent a fierce FA Cup final battle tomorrow.

Wembley win will be of no consolation to owner if it's Europa League next season