The football world goes wild over Lionel Messi, while Sir Alex Ferguson has gone all Basil Fawlty.
Who's been saying what in a sporting week of verbal sparring
A week in which Lionel Messi cemented his reputation as the world's finest player has predictably been dominated by the football fraternity waxing lyrical over the diminutive Argentine. Arsene Wenger has called him 'Play Station', which is presumably hip French slang for jolly good, while team-mate Thierry Henry has described him as 'a dog'. Elsewhere, Sir Alex Ferguson threatened to steal Messi's thunder when he did his best Basil Fawlty impression after Manchester United's elimination to Bayern Munich. Perhaps we should just be grateful he didn't mention the war...
"I believe we lost against a team that is better than us and that has the best player in the world. Once he's on the run, Messi is unstoppable. He's the only player who can change direction at such a pace."
Arsene Wenger excuses his side's defeat to Barcelona on the grounds of Lionel Messi's genius.
"We were beaten by a brilliant player and a brilliant team in general. You have to try to anticipate what he's going to do, but it's so difficult because he can do what he wants."
Manuel Almunia in a magnanimous mood despite being beaten by the Argentine four times.
"You do not have to be nervous or look at individual players. You have to be focused on your own performance and the team's performance. You cannot look at how great Messi is, because you have to play your own game." Arsenal defender
Thomas Vermaelen pre-match.
"He was very good today and it was difficult for us to defend because he knows where the space is and they came off from midfield. It was really difficult against so many spaces. If you give him too much room then you're in trouble." Arsenal defender
Thomas Vermaelen post-match.
"Leo floats over the field - sometimes you have the sensation he's not even there, that he's hiding. But he's there and the rival knows it." Netherlands and Barcelona great
Johan Cruyff waxes lyrical over the Camp Nou talisman.
"Messi is out of this planet, I would say he is so far ahead of the rest of the players playing right now and I would say historically as well. There are not words to describe him."
Ossie Ardiles puts Messi ahead of Diego Maradona in his all-time greats list.
"You have to take your hat off to him because he is a player who makes the difference. Our weapons will be to stay focused and show the maximum possible respect to Barcelona." Real Madrid defender
Sergio Ramos ahead of Saturday's mouth-watering El Clasico.
"Leo is on another level completely from every other player in the world, in a different class. If you are lucky you might find a player like this coming along once every quarter of a century." Barcelona playmaker
Xavi pays tribute to his team-mate.
"What I did isn't so important but the performance of the team as a whole is what counted."
Messi matches his brilliance with his modesty.
"He's PlayStation." Wouldn't have had
Wenger down as a gamer.
"To call him PlayStation, as Mr Wenger did, is a great definition. I don't know what level he'd be at, though - three or even four."
Pep Guardiola admits he's usually Barcelona on Pro Evolution.
"As with any great player he is a dog, he can't lose. During training-sessions if his team loses 2-1, he gets the ball, dribbles everyone and scores, and we start a gain from scratch."
Thierry Henry reveals Messi's secret -
