Welcome to Egypt

"I've been fined $200,000 for a breach of club rules but they haven't given me a reason for that and they gave me no warning. I've been deducted significant amounts of money, that doesn't happen even in Europe." Junior Agogo should have reviewed 'club rules' before joining Zamalek.

"I was negatively gobsmacked when I asked for the reasons and I was told the so-called fine was imposed because he did not sweat in a game. This is the most shocking thing I have heard in football. They have no valid reason so they come up with this cock and bull story." Agogo's agent Ernesto Okudzeto is starting to recognize the consequences of bringing his client from England to Egypt.

"Jose called me yesterday and asked me to do him a favor by winning the cup," Harras Hodoud boss Tarek Al-Ashri reveals Manuel Jose's inspiration after winning the Egyptian Cup.

"I am not worried about my job. I have been sacked just three times in my 33-year coaching career and that is a good record," Ahli's Jose is the Special One of Egyptian football.

"All players had a good game and were fully focused because there was no pressure from fans. When the fans are present, players feel the pressure; especially that Ismaili are a great club with a huge fan base." Ismaili coach Ricardo is unintentionally asking fans to stay at home.

"We did everything we could but the players still perform badly. We exerted lots of efforts in training to convey our technical instructions to the players but they forget all that when they step onto the pitch. We don't know what else to do." Sami Al-Sheshini declares that Zamalek players have problems 'following instructions' after the Ittihad defeat.

After the Telecom draw:

"Our main issue is that we have strikers, but they simply don’t score. Most of our goals are scored by defenders," now it’s a finishing problem.

After the Tersana draw:

"Our players were out-of-sorts and didn't follow the instructions they were given before the match. If we had played for another 90 minutes with this style, we wouldn't have scored even once," back to the 'instructions' problem!

Some from Europe...

"I'm very happy that I have that opportunity now. Mr. Scolari gives you lots of confidence. Chelsea was my first choice, especially when I heard Mr. Scolari was interested in me because I knew I would have an opportunity to show my game." Unfortunately for Ricardo Quaresma, Mr. Scolari was fired two days later!

"It is a sign of the times. There is absolutely no patience in the world now." Sir Alex Ferguson sympathizes with Mr. Scolari.

"The dishes aren't great - I've got to supplement what you can buy here with loads of supplies constantly brought over by my family when they visit. Pepe Reina is another guy who saves me because it’s amazing how many visitors he has who bring him Spanish food — he’s like a mobile larder" Liverpool's Xabi Alonso admits Reina's role in helping him with food off the pitch…by the end of the month, Alonso returned the favor by scoring an own-goal past his compatriot!

"I don't like English dishes. At the Spurs training ground, the food is modest. All they have there is a simple canteen. At the Spartak training camp, near Moscow, the choice and quality is better. But since my wife Larisa joined me in London it's not a problem for me any more." Pavlyuchenko agrees with Alonso, but this time the wife is the 'larder'.

Pavlyuchenko: "I hear how all the English football commentators pronounce my last name - but I can't even reproduce it. It sounds so distorted. I can't even say it." 'Shenko' must come to Egypt and listen how his name is pronounced, then he will pardon English commentators.

"Sometimes good players cannot settle down in the team and when this happens you have to consider the situation and try to react quickly.

I have to analyze things and try to look at the bigger picture and this means thinking of the club and the team and what is best for them." Rafa Benitez surely didn’t 'analyze things' when he decided to sign Robbie Keane for ₤18M last summer and then sell him for ₤12M six months later.

"Perhaps these jeers are a sign they are getting a little fed up with me and they react the same way to Seedorf. When you see the same face for many years, you need a little more patience," Ancelotti believes Milan fans have an excuse to jeer him with Seedorf, but how about Paolo Maldini?

"Adriano's goal was the greatest of my career, as it is the first time that the player has dedicated a goal to a Coach's son! My son always goes to school with his Adriano shirt, so he's very proud. He always plays him at the Playstation, too." Jose Mourinho only didn’t mention that Adri used his hand to score the 'greatest goal'.

"If those top new players need someone to clean their boots, I will be up for it." Manchester City's Craig Bellamy will do anything in order to stay at Eastlands, but is not willing to make way for top players targeted by the oil-rich club.

"The boys have been hyped-up like pop stars for the last three months and are being asked about everything, not just football. They are only human and it's no surprise if they sometimes believe they are little Riberys." Hoffenheim coach Ralf Rangnick warns his 'boys' against over-ambition.

"I tried to present myself at a trial for youngsters organized by Paris Saint-Germain when I was young, but as I didn’t have documents, they refused to open the door," I wonder if Samuel Eto'o presented himself to PSG now, will they ask him for documents?

"In fact, I can definitely not think about injuring Lionel (Messi), because Barcelona would probably cancel my contract!" Eric Abidal had to be on thin ice when France hosted Argentina.

And the winner is…

"My agent informed me that Boca Juniors are interested in acquiring my services. I have until the end of February to finalize a move to either Boca Juniors or a Russian club because the transfer window is still open in those places." Ibrahim Saied's claimed link with Boca is more difficult to swallow than if Tersana said they had agreed to sign Cristiano Ronaldo!