Jose Mourinho had seemingly heard enough, even though he hadn’t come anywhere close to saying enough.

Seems many pundits and papers have already announced this coming season’s league winners without a ball even being kicked. Apparently Arsenal have run away with it.

It’s a safe bet none of the 22 players who start tomorrow’s Community Shield spent their formative years dreaming of winning this ‘prize’.

No matter what else the television sports year offers up, we think we saw its most delightful touch last Saturday night.

Manchester City warmed up for next weekend’s Community Shield against Chelsea with a straightforward win over Limerick FC at Thomond Park last night.

EVERY now and again, like Bono in a library, I like to give something back.

As the AFL season gets underway this weekend, former Young Footballer of the Year Tommy Walsh edges closer and closer to his St Kilda League debut. Joe Callaghan met him in Melbourne.

FERNANDO TORRES may have played only two games for Chelsea since a £50m (€58m) transfer from Liverpool but such is modern football’s insatiable desire for instant gratification that already the dreaded words ‘Andriy Shevchenko’ are being whispered nervously around Stamford Bridge.

I WAS worried before the West Brom game. Don’t get me wrong, we were always going to be stronger than the newly-promoted side, but I did wonder whether we were going to see some major bottom lips on display after news was leaked of the abolition of various bonuses.

WAYNE ROONEY, who went into this match in the form of his life and hailed as ‘unstoppable’, ended it injured and in despair – and now Manchester United’s rivals, and in particular Saturday’s opponents Chelsea, must be wondering if the bubble has burst.

Alex Ferguson insisted fate propelled his Manchester United side to a second Champions League triumph in a dramatic penalty shootout against Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho has revealed he will take no chances over Ashley Cole’s return to the Chelsea side following the news Wayne Bridge is set to be ruled out for up to three months.

GERARD HOULLIER and Sven-Goran Eriksson yesterday emerged as potential candidates for the vacant job at Newcastle even though the Magpies have set their sights on Sam Allardyce.

The Examiner’s football correspondent Liam Mackey likes a good argument when he hears it, and he’s got strong views of his own.

CHELSEA manager Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United have enjoyed more than their fair share of luck this season.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United have enjoyed more than their fair share of luck this season.

RUGBY LEAGUE IRELAND (RLI) chiefs have welcomed news that the Leeds Rhinos are pushing Dublin as a venue for a potential Super League franchise.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack is winning his fitness battle ahead of Sunday’s Barclays Premiership opener against Manchester City.

ANDRIY Shevchenko knows how to make an entrance. Ukraine’s most famous export marked his AC Milan debut with a goal seven years ago and he did the same on his Chelsea bow in last Sunday’s Charity Shield defeat to Liverpool.

1971: Born Cork, August 10.

IT WAS a wet and humid day in August of 1993 and the setting was the Manchester hotel room which Roy Keane was temporarily calling home.

Ireland 2 England 1

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd is excited by the prospect of avenging a 1999 FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United.

Newcastle have today confirmed that Chelsea full-back Celestine Babayaro will become Graeme Souness’ first transfer window signing on New Year’s Day.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness is closing in on his first transfer window signing after identifying Chelsea full-back Celestine Babayaro as a target.

Arsenal youngster Francesc Fabregas admits he has learned a lot from coach Arsene Wenger following his move from Barcelona 12 months ago.

GOT the summer blues following Euro 2004? Never fear, Manchester United are here. Another Premiership season is on the horizon, accompanied by another new jersey, launched in all its scarlet splendour in Dublin yesterday.

Gerard Houllier’s failure to end a barren run of now 14 years since Liverpool last won the championship has ultimately cost him his job at Anfield.

ARSENE WENGER insisted Robert Pires is not being protected from a stormy reception at Fratton Park today even though the winger is being rested from Arsenal’s FA Cup quarter-final tie.

WITH great dignity Gerard Houllier pledges to fight on to restore Liverpool to their former glories.

Sol Campbell has rubbished speculation that he was ready to quit international football after his spats with England's Football Association over his disciplinary record.

Manchester City 1 Arsenal 2

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was forced to challenge his team to show their title credentials in Manchester this afternoon.

ROOKIE keeper Tim Howard has insisted he does not want to be an overnight sensation at Manchester United.

Rookie keeper Tim Howard has insisted he does not want to be an overnight sensation at Manchester United. The American is at Old Trafford for the long haul.

Manchester United’s massive squad may have got used to the idea of being rested from time to time but Nicky Butt knows there will not be any volunteers to stand down from tomorrow’s Worthington Cup final showdown with Liverpool.

Alex Ferguson felt Roy Keane was so comfortable in his new central defensive role on Tuesday that he could have completed the game wearing ‘a bowler hat and white gloves’.

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the “fantastic” performance of Paul Scholes as Manchester United stormed into the Worthington Cup Final.

FORMER Arsenal captain Frank McLintock has expressed his disbelief that current skipper Patrick Vieira is planning to ask Arsene Wenger to give him a rest just five league games into the new season.

Life without Tony Adams officially begins for Arsenal this Sunday in the Community Shield (formerly the Charity Shield), but it will not just be his presence on the pitch which will be sorely missed.

Czech striker Milan Baros has shaved his head, trimmed his weight and given Gerard Houllier plenty to think about.