Roberto Mancini (Manchester City) on the training ground spat between Mario Balotelli and Micah Richards: “[Balotelli] said it was because he didn’t pass the ball to him. It was a really stupid thing. It was nothing. After 10 minutes it was finished. I was always involved in problems on the training ground, with Trevor Francis and Liam Brady [at Sampdoria]. It happens.

“When you play a match eight versus eight and you are passionate, it can happen with every team. Not every week, but often. Mario and Micah were boxing, but they are like twins. They are very good friends. This has happened with Mario four times now. He is the king for this. But it has happened with other players.

“However, Mario should pay attention, not just about this, but in every situation. We are near Christmas, at the end of the year it is very dangerous time for fireworks. It is better he stays in the hotel.”

Arsene Wenger (Arsenal) on Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure: “I have known him since he was 15. We had an agreement with Yaya to come here, but the problem was that he was at Beveren and we had to wait long enough for a European passport. Therefore he was impatient and went, at the time, to Metalurh Donetsk.

“Now he is a top-class player. We knew that at the time he would be a top-class player, but the only problem with Yaya was to fix him into a position because he can play everywhere.” Wenger added: “He can play centre-back, as a second striker, as a midfielder and for a long time we didn’t know where to play him. He played in a pre-season game at Barnet (on July 19, 2003) as a second striker – and he was completely average on the day.”

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