In continuation of the Famous Quotes from 2017 series, herein are the pick of the bunch from the second quarter of the year

April

“I feel like Benjamin Button. I was born old and I will die young.”

– Zlatan Ibrahimovic speaks with Sky Sports after scoring in his side’s 3-0 win over Sunderland

“I’m very much an interim coach. I’m here to give the players a kick up the arse and win games. I have 40 years experience.”

– Arsenal legend Tony Adams outlines his role following his surprise appointment at La Liga strugglers Granada

“The best song? Don’t laugh. But I like Whitney Houston.”

– Celtic defender Kolo Toure divulges his love for the late singer while misunderstanding a journalist’s question in a news conference, asking him his favourite fan chant throughout his career

“He had a good performance but it was his body with my brain. He was in front of me and I was making every decision for him.”

– More Jose, of course. Mourinho criticised Luke Shaw’s understanding of the game after the left-back’s second-half cameo in a 1-1 draw with Everton in April.

“I face questions about my future all the time but tonight I’m not in the mood to speak about it. It would be ‘inconvenient’ for me to speak about my own future tonight.”

– An under-fire Arsene Wenger attempts to divert questions about his future after Arsenal are beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park

May

“Sorry I am late, but Tony Pulis is Tony Pulis and red wine is red wine!”

– Guardiola explains why he was late for his press conference after Man City beat West Brom 3-1 in their final home game of the season

“Before I went to Juventus, I made a final promise to the board at Barcelona. I said: ‘You’re going to miss me.’ I didn’t mean as a player. Barca have plenty of incredible players. What I meant was they were going to miss my spirit. They were going to miss the care I had for the dressing room. They were going to miss the blood I spilled every time I put on the shirt.”

– Ahead of the Champions League final in Cardiff, Juventus right-back Dani Alves revealed to The Players’ Tribune what he said to Barcelona officials before he moved to Turin.

“This club doesn’t have the same ambitions, the same mentality as the previous clubs I’ve been at.”

– Sacked Watford boss Walter Mazzarri offers a barbed evaluation of the club ahead of his final match in charge

“I love this club and I am looking forward to the future with optimism and excitement. We’re committed to mounting a sustained league challenge.”

– Arsene Wenger finally signs a new two-year deal at Arsenal and targets the Premier League title.

“As a player you always wonder when this day will finally come. Today is that day. I’ve just melted. The club means everything to me. Thank you will never be enough to (the fans). They have supported me through thick and thin. They have sung my name through the good times and bad and have driven me on.”

– John Terry pays an emotional tribute to Chelsea fans after making his final Stamford Bridge appearance

June

“Again, at some point of course, we will have to transition to the era beyond Arsene and that is not a sentimental connection that we have, that is a connection that is driven by what is best for the football club.”

– Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis fails to offer much clarity on the club’s long-term managerial plans.