"He is the best player in the world, by a distance. He is not always in the game but when he is he is unstoppable. He can change direction at any time and leave his marker or defender going in the opposite direction and chasing air."
- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger heaps praise on Barcelona's Lionel Messi, the man who destroyed the Gunners with four goals in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg.

"There was an incredible genius in this match: Leo. He finished off his chances in magisterial style."
- Barcelona president Joan Laporta was also impressed with Messi's four-goal performance.

"He is a brilliant player and he was fantastic in this game. As a goalkeeper you try to anticipate what he's going to do but he can do whatever he wants and when he wants to. He is the best player I have ever faced. I have a bad memory of tonight but he is the best player in the world."
- Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia may not mind having nightmares over Messi's master class.

"I reiterate that based on medical and legal advice, I am firmly of the view that there are no impediments to me racing in female athletics competitions."
- Women's 800m world champion Caster Semenya says she will return to competitive athletics in June after athletics' ruling body the IAAF releases her gender test results.

"I don't care if we win. I want the players to show some commitment and get their attitude right and have a real crack."
- Brisbane Broncos coach Ivan Henjak, whose side sits bottom of the NRL ladder after four rounds, believes that it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.

"I thought I'd be a blubbering mess sitting here today but I think it's more of a relief just to get it out there and get it known."
- New Zealand Warriors prop Steve Price is still a tough guy, even when announcing his retirement.

"I know my wife is happy I've finally made a decision because I really have been a different person at home. I'm a deep thinker. I wasn't sleeping all that well so I'm actually quite relieved to be honest to have made a decision."
- Broncos captain Darren Lockyer also showed relief when announcing that he is not retiring from representative league this year.

"I don't care what people think any more, my teammates know how committed I am and nothing changes. I've always been honest from the get-go to the team and to my family so nothing changes for me - I love this club and I'll just continue to go forward."
- Bulldogs prop Ben Hannant gives a brief statement after doing most of his talking on the field with 208 metres and 51 tackles against Souths.

"After a good season last year, the team needed certain reinforcements and to keep the squad together, but circumstances dictated we had to sell and everything got messed up."
- Liverpool striker Fernando Torres pinpoints where it all went wrong for the underachieving Reds this season.

"One can say that there has been a complete change for Inter in this competition. That is to say, the team is confident this time round in the Champions League. And now, anything could happen. We could win it or we might not, but at the very least Inter will approach this competition in the future in a totally different state of mind. It will approach matches differently, it is more solid and better defensively."
- Inter manager Jose Mourinho offers up another special quote after his side defeated CSKA Moscow to advance to the Champions League semi-finals.

"Personally, it is the fourth time that I have reached the semi-finals. I've won the trophy once, another time I lost in the semi-finals on penalties and another time I was knocked out by a goal that wasn't a goal. This time we will see."
- Mourinho perfectly sets the stage for the Champions League semi-final tie between Inter and Barcelona.


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