THEY SAID IT...

“It is very difficult for us. When you look at our schedule and you look at the games that we are playing back-to-back, it’s very tough. But one should give credit to our conditioning team … to our medical department, those guys are doing a lot of work and they are helping in that space because our recovery processes always demand a lot and there is always so much to do. Those guys are on top of their game.” Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi on one of the secrets to the club’s success.

“We were poor. Defending bad, no intensity, no pressing. In terms of attacking football, some important players hiding. Really bad. I’m not pointing the finger at player A, B or C, but people were hiding, not showing themselves, no intensity, no passing and moving.” A disgruntled Jose Mourinho after losing Sunday’s North London derby to Arsenal.

“Obviously, when I was younger, I was really small, so Messi was a perfect example for me of someone who would get kicked about by bigger players. Messi just took to it like a duck to water. Watching him was a real inspiration, to show me that if he's one of the smallest players on the pitch but the best player on it, then why can’t I be?" Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay on Lionel Messi’s influence on his career.

“Africa needs collective wisdom, but also the exceptional talent and work of every national football association president and every member nation. When we all work together, football in Africa will experience success and growth that it has not enjoyed in the past." New CAF President Patrice Motsepe after taking over the reins of African football last Friday.