'I'm like a maestro from the Boston Philharmonic': The best quotes of the Premier League season, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Rafa Benitez and Dimitar Berbatov

Phil Shaw recalls the best this season

Ferguson challenged the United players to win the league three times in a row (Getty Images)

"I certainly don't have any plans at the moment to walk away from what I believe will be something special and worth being around for all to see."

Sir Alex Ferguson, three days before announcing his retirement

"He will be here next year, you can get my word on that."

Ferguson on Rooney, in March

"Around Europe people ask me to name the best player I've worked with. I say Paul Scholes because he could do absolutely everything. Apart from tackle."

Steve McClaren

"Feel for United. I remember how hard it was to win our 4th one."

John Bishop, Liverpool-supporting comedian, tweeting after United were KO'd by Real Madrid in Champions' League

"We will win the title."

Roberto Mancini, in September

"We will win the League next season." Mancini, in April

Reporter: "What will you miss about England?"

Balotelli: "Nothing. Apart from the football."

Reporter: "What didn't you like?"

Balotelli: "Everything: the food, the weather, the press."

"Mario didn't understand that City was his big, big chance. City in the next five or 10 years can be the top club in the world." Mancini

"Often I refer to it as management by hand grenade. Paolo would chuck a hand grenade and I would do the repair work at the end, like the Red Cross."

Nick Watkins, former chief executive at Swindon

"Many times since we took over the club Paolo Di Canio has approached David Sullivan and David Gold about being the manager of West Ham. I think they considered him briefly – something I never did – but dismissed him on the basis that football and fascism do not mix."

Karren Brady, West Ham executive

"The best Premier League player? Gareth Bale, a force of nature."

Pablo Zabaleta

"I'm like a maestro from the Boston Philharmonic whose biggest breakthrough as a leader was realising that he didn't make any sound himself; the players did."

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas

"Improbable... implausible...contrived."

Independent tribunal judgment on John Terry's evidence on charge of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand

"There is no precedent for what Suarez did, other than he's done it before."

Danny Mills, Radio 5 Live pundit

"The fans and the manager we have something in common. We both want to win."

Rafa Benitez on being appointed Chelsea's "interim manager"

"I think he's very concerned about his CV. He refers to it quite a lot."

Sir Alex Ferguson on his old adversary Benitez

"I know in England I am loved. I know I am loved by some clubs, especially one." Jose Mourinho

"This transfer window, every agent seems to be trying to screw one another. It's like gang warfare out there – it's scary."

QPR manager Harry Redknapp

"People said I'd lost the dressing room but I know where it is, down the corridor on the left."

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway

"Keep calm and pass me the ball."

Dimitar Berbatov's T-shirt