THIS has been a week about statistics, about dwelling upon the past, for Alex Ferguson and Manchester United as, arguably, the greatest manager in the history of British football reached 25 years as the supreme commander at Old Trafford.

WILLIAM GALLAS has urged his Tottenham team-mates to go and out deliver a win for manager Harry Redknapp against Fulham tomorrow.

ALEX FERGUSON plans to repeat his trick of winning the league with youngsters as he looks to repeat the famed “Class of ‘92”.

ARSENE WENGER wants Arsenal to continue being “humble and progressive” rather than contemplating a tilt at the Barclays Premier League title.

ALAN PARDEW has saluted the men behind Newcastle’s blistering Taylor-made start to the season.

ALEX FERGUSON’S achievements at Old Trafford will be put into focus by Manchester United supporters ahead of the 25th anniversary of his appointment as manager when they unveil a banner on the Stretford End for this afternoon’s match against Sunderland that says simply: The impossible dream made possible.

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS is confident Roman Abramovich remains fully behind his Chelsea project as he seeks to prevent the club’s slump becoming a full-blown crisis.

STEVE BRUCE has predicted Alex Ferguson’s all-conquering reign at Manchester United will never be bettered.

STEVE BRUCE has revealed John O’Shea is likely to miss the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia through injury.

WAYNE ROONEY turned into a midfield star as Manchester United’s slow rehabilitation from the day it still hurts Alex Ferguson to think of continued.

ALEX FERGUSON has admitted it is still “painful to think” about Manchester United’s derby-day humiliation at Old Trafford 11 days ago.

FORMER Ireland and Manchester United star Roy Keane is battling to make his return to management with ambitious Championship club Leicester City.

REAL MADRID joined Barcelona in guaranteeing their qualification for the Champions League knockout stages as two Cristiano Ronaldo goals gave Jose Mourinho’s men a 2-0 victory at Lyon last night.

ANDRE VILLAS-BOAS has refused to accept he is fighting to keep his job as Stamford Bridge after Chelsea lost two home games in a row for the first time in the Roman Abramovich era — and has instead claimed the club’s notoriously twitchy owner is behind him.

RICHARD DUNNE is determined the success he has enjoyed with the Republic of Ireland will continue for Aston Villa during a testing period — starting with tonight’s clash at Tottenham.

SWANSEA CITY learned the harsh reality of Premier League football at the Liberty Stadium as Manchester United kept alive their hopes of retaining the coveted title.

MICHAEL CARRICK is delighted Manchester United have learned how to win ugly.

ANTHONY PILKINGTON is a young man desperate to make up for lost time.

ROBERTO MANCINI has insisted Carlos Tevez would still be part of his plans at Manchester City if he had apologised in the aftermath of his refusal to warm up during the Champions League tie at Bayern Munich last month.

STEVEN TAYLOR is relishing the chance to prove Newcastle’s critics wrong as they prepare for an acid test of their Barclays Premier League credentials.