Watching Didi Hamann and the RTÉ football panel in recent weeks question Pep Guardiola’s standing as a coach for remaining stuck on just the two Champions League titles in a career that’s barely a decade old, we were reminded of the opening scene in March to Madness, the esteemed John Feinstein’s season-long study of about the only championship in world team sport that’s as hard to win as football’s famous cup with the big ears.

Playing Wayne Rooney in midfield “is an insult”, according to former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Jurgen Klopp has received almost universal backing from those who know the German and believe he will be an ideal fit at Anfield.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has praised his old club for getting ahead of the game in the transfer market as a sixth summer signing edges closer in the form of Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne.

Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann feels the club will be better off in the long term without Luis Suarez, a player he believes “can’t be trusted”.

Former Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann feels the club needs to be closely monitored by UEFA as deals like the one which has taken Frank Lampard to the Etihad Stadium “could be an issue” in the future.

As Premier League transfer activity intensifies, armies of sports lawyers are poised for an orgy of t-crossing and i-dotting on complicated contracts.

The temptation to bill tomorrow’s meeting of Manchester United and Liverpool as a clash of red empires is almost irresistible — with no prizes for guessing which red empire is on the rise and which in decline.

Didi Hamann has dismissed Arsene Wenger’s suggestion that Wojciech Szczesny’s red card in the first leg was the decisive moment in Arsenal’s 3-1 aggregate Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

Drawing Germany in the Euro qualifiers sent a few shivers down Irish spines still bent under the weight of that humiliating 6-1 World Cup defeat in Dublin in October 2012.

Liverpool have opened preliminary talks about a new contract for striker Luis Suarez but any potential new lucrative deal is some way off yet.

Former Liverpool star Dietmar Hamann has branded Ashley Young “worse than Luis Suarez” over his diving antics.

Joey Barton has apologised for a series of “offensive” and “untrue” comments he made on Twitter about former Germany international Dietmar Hamann.

Controversy just seems to linger around Joey Barton and last night the former Newcastle and QPR midfielder became embroiled in a more extended exchange than usual — this time with former German international Didi Hamann, and again, on Twitter.

What channel to watch? Who has hired the bluffers and who has the gems? Des O’Driscoll tunes television viewers into Euro 2012

Former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann has revealed how he once lost £288,400 (€344,710) on a single bet.

IT never fails. The light at the end of the tunnel was an oncoming train after all.

Former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann has been named the new manager of non-league Stockport.

FORMER German star Dietmar Hamann believes England’s inability to keep possession will be their downfall at the World Cup finals.

Liverpool winger Albert Riera has been suspended by the club for his outspoken attack on manager Rafael Benitez and the club.

HE HAS played for Franz Beckenbauer, Rafa Benitez, Kenny Dalglish, Gerard Houllier, Otto Rehhagel, Berti Vogts and Rudi Voller, but as far as Didi Hamann is concerned Giovanni Trapattoni is simply the best.

Manchester City have confirmed four senior stars have left the club.

Manchester City have been dealt another blow with the news veteran midfielder Dietmar Hamann has been ruled out for up to three months with a toe injury.

Manchester City’s new signing Wayne Bridge is expected to make his debut at left-back against Portsmouth at Fratton Park tomorrow.

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland is doubtful for the FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest at Eastlands tomorrow because of a hamstring problem.

Manchester City will check on the fitness of Micah Richards and Felipe Caicedo ahead of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Blackburn.

Record buy Robinho will give Manchester City a timely lift when he returns from injury for their St Stephen's Day clash with Hull at Eastlands.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray made two changes – one enforced – from the side beaten 4-0 at Sunderland, for today’s Premier League match at home to Manchester City.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will monitor Robinho’s fitness ahead of the Premier League match against West Brom on Sunday.

Manchester City captain Richard Dunne has been ruled out of the UEFA Cup match against Racing Santander tomorrow because of a family matter.

IF Premier League midfielders can generally be divided into work-horses and show ponies, there is little doubt to which category Tim Cahill belongs.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is hoping former Real Madrid striker Robinho will recover from an ankle injury in time to face Everton tomorrow at Eastlands.

FOR a manager boasting the kind of budget that would make many world leaders turn pea-green with envy, Mark Hughes can be a miserable soul.

Manchester City midfielder Elano will be sidelined for up to 10 days after suffering a groin strain in the draw against Paris St Germain in the UEFA Cup in midweek.

Manchester City and Manchester United recalled £63.25m-worth of striking talent as they went head-to-head for the first time this season in an eagerly-awaited derby at Eastlands.

Manchester City striker Robinho looks set to return to the side for the derby against Manchester United on Sunday at Eastlands.

MARK HUGHES hailed Manchester City’s “excellent” night after their 2-0 UEFA Cup victory at Schalke put them into the knockout stages.

Captain Richard Dunne, midfielder Gelson Fernandes and striker Danny Sturridge could all return to Manchester City’s squad for Saturday’s home clash against Arsenal.

STEPHEN IRELAND may have fallen out of love with international football, but his romance with Manchester City continues to blossom with every passing week.

Richard Dunne and Gelson Fernandes both serve one-match bans as Manchester City look to get their season back on track with a win over Hull at the KC Stadium on Sunday.

Manchester City midfielder Vincent Kompany remains doubtful for the Barclays Premier League match against Tottenham on Sunday at Eastla

GARY MEGSON can breathe again.

Under-fire Bolton manager Gary Megson is without misfiring striker Johan Elmander for today’s home clash against Premier League rivals Manchester City.

Pablo Zabaleta is expected to return from suspension as Manchester City look to bounce back from midweek defeat at Middlesbrough by beating Bolton on Sunday.

The Manchester City pair of captain Richard Dunne and teenage striker Ched Evans are expected to recover from injury to be included in an unchanged squad for tomorrow’s trip to Middlesbrough in the Barclays Premier League.

AMBITION is the new buzz-word reverberating around the City of Manchester stadium, and nobody encapsulates it more definitively than the club’s highest profile recruit.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is hoping Micah Richards will be fit for Sunday’s visit of Stoke.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will monitor Richard Dunne's fitness ahead of the Premier League match against Liverpool on Sunday.

MARK HUGHES could barely contain his fury after a contentious penalty decision saw his expensively-assembled side slip to defeat at Wigan.