Daniele De Rossi faced a dilemma.

Jonny Evans believes it was a good thing David de Gea could barely speak any English when he arrived at Manchester United because it stopped him being exposed to all the harsh criticism he came in for.

Everton midfielder Darron Gibson has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad to face the Czech Republic next week.

Midfielder David Silva has welcomed Carlos Tevez’s return to Manchester City and backed the Argentinian to play a key role in the title race.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis reflected on a thrilling seven-month adventure to the corners of the continent after his side’s Europa League run was finally brought to an end by Valencia in the last 32 last night.

Manchester United stumbled into a Europa League last-16 meeting with Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford last night after coming perilously close to being knocked out by Ajax.

SUNDAY’S Premier League match at Liberty Stadium was billed as a game for the purists.

CHELSEA captain John Terry is glad to have some unhappy players in the squad as the Blues look to fight their way back into the Premier League title race.

BASKETBALL Ireland’s chief executive Bernard O’Byrne has appealed to its clubs “not to go to war” over the Superleague National Cup finals’ move to a Friday night.

AS the Manchester United first team filed in from training at the Cliff, a young Kevin Grogan stood hopefully with his autograph book at the bottom of the stairs.

RIO FERDINAND is delighted two of his top five Premier League players are treading the boards on the biggest stage once more.

IT WAS not pretty and it will certainly not live long in the memory.

LIVERPOOL’S managing director Ian Ayre has defended the club’s stance on racism and discrimination.

HE MAY have been able to ride to their rescue in the FA Cup, yet Thierry Henry can now be under illusions that the Arsenal of now is in no better shape than the one he left.

ANY lingering hopes that Arsenal could still win the title are probably over following defeat at Swansea but next Sunday there is an opportunity to wind back the years and pretend differently.

MANCHESTER CITY cannot be considered a great side until they have a cabinet full of trophies, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has claimed.

IT SAYS much about the current standing of Manchester United that their most significant “signing” of the January transfer window, if not their only one, will prove to be a 37-year-old who retired eight months ago to concentrate on coaching.

BOBBY CHARLTON has labelled the return of Manchester United “dinosaur” Paul Scholes as one of the best bits of news ever.

WITH each passing week, any association Liverpool have been keen to promote with Billy Beane’s Oakland A’s, which inspired the book ‘Moneyball’, only seem more ridiculous.

AFTER A WEEK of comebacks so surprising that you half expect Muhammad Ali to step back into the ring, would it be too much to imagine Stephen Ireland putting on the green of his country again?