FC BARCELONA never tire of telling the world that they are more than a club.

THE visit of Barcelona would dominate thoughts at any time but when the memory of last season’s meeting with the Catalans is still raw in the memory, there can be no surprise that Wednesday’s Champions League meeting dominated Arsenal’s thoughts on Saturday.

IT was perhaps an indication of the importance of the goal, as well as the sublime skill and technique involved in its conversion, but the response to Wayne Rooney’s winning Manchester derby goal did border on the hysterical.

AT LEAST Kenny Dalglish will not have any pangs of guilt shooting through him this time. Prior to Saturday, the last time Dalglish managed a Liverpool team against Wigan Athletic he sent a defender on in attack, watched Steve Staunton score a hat-trick — and still did not pick him for the next game.

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson has admitted there will be “no secrets” to be unveiled by either side in today’s derby.

ALEX FERGUSON has refused to get involved in a war of words with Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni over the future of Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson.

ARSENE WENGER emphasised Arsenal’s desperation to win a trophy this season by insisting today’s Premier League match against Wolves was more important than next week’s Champions League clash with Barcelona.

IT HAS been a long time coming but last night Chelsea, thanks to a controversial 80th-minute penalty winner from Frank Lampard, dramatically disrupted Manchester United’s title challenge and revived their own fractured season; lock, stock and two smoking barrels.

THE hardest question Carlo Ancelotti had to face as he desperately attempted to defend Ashley Cole’s shooting of a work experience boy with an air rifle — and his own decision not to sack him — came when he was asked: What action would the club have taken if it had been a member of staff firing at a player?

CARLING CUP hero Ben Foster has stressed the need for Birmingham to guarantee their Barclays Premier League status in the aftermath of their shock win over Arsenal in the final at Wembley.

CARLO ANCELOTTI insists a Chelsea victory over Manchester United tonight could be crucial to his side’s season, despite admitting they had almost no chance of catching the Barclays Premier League leaders.

FAR from elbowing Manchester United out of the title race, Wayne Rooney’s latest failure to control himself on the pitch may have helped Alex Ferguson’s quest for a 12thPremier League title.

NEMANJA VIDIC insists facing Fernando Torres will hold no fears for him at Stamford Bridge tomorrow night.

IT really does come to something when the most exciting moment of a Premier League encounter occurs when two silver-haired 40-somethings have a little tantrum with each other at the final whistle.

BACK in the spring of 2007, contract talks between John Terry and Chelsea broke down.

IF YOU had told Arsene Wenger back in the summer that his side would miss out on the Carling Cup this season, the Arsenal manager would not have lost much sleep.

ALEX FERGUSON insists only Manchester United or Arsenal can win this season’s Premier League title, ruling out defending champions Chelsea just three days before the sides are due to meet at Stamford Bridge.

THE Glazer family have confirmed their commitment to Manchester United and insisted they have no interest in selling the club.