WF Quotes of the Week: Leaked Team Sheets and Hazard Compares Himself to Messi

There have been plenty of talking points this week. Chelsea’s standout player Eden Hazard talking himself up with one of the best players of all time, Brazil manager Luiz Felipe Scolari giving his players permission to engage in sex with certain safety stipulations and a small insight into the mind of Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho are just a few of the storylines.

Cardiff City have also been angered with reports suggesting the Premier League side had their tactics leaked to Crystal Palace. The 3-0 home defeat to the Eagles did nothing to quell their anger either.

But let's review the rest of the news. Here are some of world football's quotes of the week.

Newcastle Manager Alan Pardew Bemoans ‘Toughest Spell’ of His Career

Paul Thomas/Getty Images

After a month to forget for Newcastle manager Alan Pardew, he recently admitted to the media that it’s been the "toughest spell" of his managerial career, with a number of incidents having threatened to derail Newcastle’s season.

His infamous headbutt on Hull City’s David Meyler, which then led to his subsequent stadium and touchline ban, was certainly his lowest moment of his career by some distance. Not to mention, his side are currently enduring a horrendous run of form in 2014 that has seen them fail to score in 11 of their 15 Premier League games this year.

Pardew told BBC Newcastle (via BBC Sport):

“I'm not enjoying it because whatever you do in work or life you don't want criticism. It's been as tough a period as manager I've ever had."

Cardiff City Reportedly Have Team Sheet Leaked to Their Opponents

Sang Tan

Prior to their 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, reports had emerged that Cardiff’s tactics had been leaked to the Eagles. Chairman Mehmet Dalman sent in a complaint to the Premier League a day before the match, and the incident allegedly led to one Cardiff member of the staff being sacked, according to Sky Sports. The other was reportedly dismissed, but information to the contrary has since emerged, as per Sky's report. 

With Crystal Palace sporting director Iain Moody having left Cardiff to join the Londoners during the middle of this season, he had found himself embroiled in the argument. However, Moody denied any involvement.

Cardiff captain Steven Caulker touched on the issue, via Sky:

"

There have been problems like that all season, where certain things have been leaked. We need to focus on things on the pitch, not what's going on off it. It has obviously come from somewhere. That's down to the gaffer and the staff to sort stuff out. A lot of stuff has been going on off the pitch all season, and that has been highlighted in the press.

"

Luke Shaw Says Ashley Cole Is Still England’s Best Left-Back

Rui Vieira

Southampton defender Luke Shaw made an intriguing statement to The Sun (via Sky Sports) about Ashley Cole’s chances of making this summer’s World Cup, saying that the long-serving left-back was "still England’s best left-back" despite not having featured much for Chelsea this year:

"

Ashley has nothing to prove. He has won 107 caps for his country; everyone knows what he can do. There is no question he has been the world's best left-back for the last 10 years - and still is. People talk about his lack of starts at Chelsea this season - but, in my view, when (England manager) Roy (Hodgson) makes his decision on who to take to the World Cup that will not come into his thinking.

"

While complimentary, his comments may also be deemed as disrespectful to Everton’s Leighton Baines. The 29-year-old is currently England’s first-choice left-back for the World Cup, so he certainly wouldn't have appreciated Shaw being so dismissive of his chances of lining up for England in the World Cup.

Mourinho Really Is Meticulous with His Planning

Kirsty Wigglesworth

Following Chelsea’s Champions League victory against PSG to book their place in the semi-final, the players gave an insight as to how hard Mourinho really works behind the scenes to prepare his team for any eventuality.

During the second leg against the French Ligue 1 champions, Chelsea scored late to make it 2-0 which would see them through into the final four. Mourinho then raced from the dugout to give individual instructions to all of his players to ensure they saw the win out.

Chelsea defender John Terry told ITV after the game:

“We worked on scenarios all week, what would happen if we go 1-0 up, what would happen if we go 2-1, 3-1 and get Demba Ba—the big man—on.” 

It’s long been documented how precise the Chelsea manager is when he sets his teams up to play, but Terry’s team-mates further backed up just how much planning went into their preparations prior to the match. Terry’s words gave a small insight into how drilled the Chelsea players are in games with such importance. With the Blues qualifying for the final four of the Champions League, Mourinho’s meticulous planning clearly paid dividends.

Koke Says 'No' to Manchester United

Andres Kudacki

Manchester United were dealt a blow in their attempts to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke after the Spaniard told Spanish paper AS (via Mirror Football) that he's happy at the Vicente Calderon.

The 22-year-old has long been linked with David Moyes‘ side, but he is more and more unlikely to ever want to leave the Spanish outfit, considering how well Atletico are doing this season when compared to the struggles of United.

But it’s yet another player who has refuted having any interest of joining Manchester United in the summer, with the club also set to be without Champions League football next season.

Hazard Compares Himself to Messi

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The growing ego of Chelsea's Hazard hit a new high after he was quoted by Spanish paper Sport (via Charles Perrin of The Express) comparing himself to four-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi of Barcelona. Hazard claimed his playing style is similar to that of the Argentina international, with just their scoring tallies the one difference between the pair:

"

If I had to choose, I'd say my body type and style of playing means I'm closer to Messi. Ronaldo is more of an athlete - he's good at everything. He runs fast, he's strong. So I would say I'm closer to Messi. But obviously I don't score as many goals as he does.

"

Brazil Players Given Permission to Have Sex by Their National Team Manager

Christophe Ena

Brazil's Scolari has spoken out about the rules and regulations of his players for the forthcoming World Cup this summer, if they wish to proceed in carnal activity.

"

The players can have normal sex during the World Cup. Usually normal sex is done in balanced way, but there are certain forms, certain ways and others who do acrobatics. And that…No.

"

While the players will no doubt be delighted to have been given the green light, they certainly won't appreciate the intrusion. With Scolari adding that surveys and checks will be done on the players to ensure they aren‘t being too acrobatic and risking injury, the Brazil players may well find that a little too intrusive.