The 20 Barclays Premier League bosses on a season finale with everything to play for
The denouement to a thrilling Barclays
Premier League season takes place on Sunday 13th May, with several key
issues still to be decided at the top and bottom of the table.
The title, UEFA Champions League places, UEFA Europa League places and the final relegation spot are still yet to be decided.
Find out exactly what can happen on the final day by clicking here >>
Here, the managers of the 20 Barclays Premier League clubs look forward to what promises to be a day that will live long in the memory:
Man City's Roberto Mancini: "When you play the last game and if you win, you can win the Premier League title, then for sure that is a big game.
"And in this situation, we play against a team in QPR that play to avoid relegation. It will be hard, it will be difficult - more than at Newcastle, more than against Manchester United."
QPR's Mark Hughes: "Our away form is probably the worst in the Premier League, so that doesn't auger well. But it's a one-off game, a huge game for Man City, and maybe City will get nervous about their situation. Stranger things have happened.
"City have the view that if something can go wrong it will go wrong for them, that's how their fans have thought down the years. But they are an outstanding football team and the prize they are going for is the ultimate prize."
Sunderland v Manchester United
Sunderland's Martin O'Neill: "We're a bit-part on Sunday, but it's good to be involved in it. Man City think this will be an easy game for United - but they only took a point from us in two matches this season.
"For us, if we win, we've got a chance of finishing in the top 10, and that's not something I was thinking about a few months ago. It's a terrific effort by the players, because they've won some matches this season they probably had no right to win."
Man Utd's Sir Alex Ferguson: "Do you know what I was doing 29 years ago today [Friday]? I took a wee team - Aberdeen - to beat Real Madrid in a European final wiith 11 players, home-bred, and the oldest player was 27 years of age.
"That's Queens Park Rangers' challenge - to do an Aberdeen. We need something stupid to happen at City, we know that."
Everton's David Moyes: "I said if we finished in the top 10 that would be an acceptable achievement. But I don't think you ever want to be saying finishing 10th - or seventh - is that good. The only place you want to finish is first.
"Maybe in the Premier League it is slightly different because getting in a Champions League spot is seen as success. I wouldn't say 10th is successful, I would say it is adequate, a decent return for us."
Newcastle's Alan Pardew: "We can be very proud of what we've achieved here, and the players have done brilliantly. It's been a fantastic season - to finish fifth would be a marvellous achievement anyway.
"Sunday will play out, and we'll hear about other things happening during the game. A lot can happen on the last day and there's a lot to play for. To be competing for the Champions League is more than we could have imagined."
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham
Tottenham's Harry Redknapp: "If we can finish third it will be great, but if we finish fourth that would still be a great achievement.
"I don't think we've finished above Chelsea too many times since the Premier League started have we? So that's good."
Fulham's Martin Jol: "I'm very satisfied with how we've done this season, especially after the start and all those games we had to play to get into the Europa League proper. In the last 20-odd matches we'd be in the top five in the League.
"We could finish eighth if results go our way, but the only thing that matters is that we get a good result at Spurs. I don't think it will be emotional for me; hopefully it won't be very emotional for the Spurs fans either. But Spurs will always be in my heart."
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal
West Brom assistant Keith Downing: "We want to finish with more points than last year and finish in the top 10. And also we want to win for two people: Roy Hodgson, for the 16 months of fantastic work he's put in; and Dave Matthews, the kit man who's been here for 50-odd years.
"It's an important day for everybody. We've laid a lot of hoodoos to rest this season and we know the magnitude of the game on Sunday. Arsenal are a superb side and credit to them for getting themselves in the position they are in now."
Arsenal's Arsene Wenger: "Defensively we were poor against Norwich, but we were trying to hard to win the game. All of a sudden it wasn't in our hands, but the other teams failed to take advantage and that was a big lift for us.
"If you look at how far back in the League we have come from to be in the position we are now in, it's really remarkable. We have a massive game in front of us, but I feel we're focused and switched on."
Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers
Stoke's Tony Pulis: "I'm just focused on doing what we do. Owen [Coyle] has his own responsibilities, he has got his football club to look after and he has to manage the week the way he has to manage the week.
"I can guarantee everybody that we'll be running around and we'll do our best and if we win the game, brilliant, if we don't, it's still been a great season for us."
Bolton's Owen Coyle: "I truly believe we will stay up. I know we are capable of going and winning a tough game at a tough venue. We have players who can score goals - to win games you must score goals - and we can do that.
"We can still be smiling on Sunday night. To do that we have to give a huge performance."
Chelsea's Roberto di Matteo: "Our schedule has been crazy. We've played many more games than our opposition and I don't have any regrets. We've pushed the players and they've responded fantastically. To be able to play in the Champions League final is incredible.
"I couldn't ask for any more from any of them. We've tried to win every game and sometimes the other team was better. We wanted to finish fourth, so that's the disappointment. But it could still be a great season."
Blackburn's Steve Kean: "We got to focus on the Chelsea match and then look to build a squad that hits the ground running and gets us out of the Championship at the first attempt.
"In the short term, I want to keep the majority of this squad together. We know we have to bounce back as quickly as possible because it gets harder."
Norwich City v Aston Villa
Norwich's Paul Lambert: "You hope that the players are going to keep kicking on and driving on. I don't want to be up here one season and then go down again.
"You want to keep kicking on. And they're young enough to keep that hunger and to keep going. That's testament to them that they want to keep on improving."
Aston Villa's Alex McLeish: "We got over the line, there's obviously a bit of relief there. People expect us to be higher up the table because our name's Aston Villa, but sometimes there are reasons for that not to be the case.
"We've under-achieved for this football club in terms of past history, no doubt. But we've lost experienced players at crucial times and we've missed Darren Bent, his goals would've got us a bit higher up."
Swansea City v Liverpool
Swansea's Brendan Rodgers: "Both teams have a lot to play for. Liverpool will try to finish as high as they possibly can. There's a demand on a club like Liverpool to win every single game. The performance during the week [against Chelsea] was exceptional.
"And as always we are at home, we always expect to do well. We will have a great celebration and hopefully we will have a performance and a result on top of that."
Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish: "We want to do as well as we possibly can in every game we play for this football club. To win a trophy this year is a good result and to get to the FA Cup final is a good result - and to get in the Europa League is a measure of success.
"We're not happy finishing below anybody in the table, we want to be finishing above everybody."
Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wigan's Roberto Martinez: "I don't expect to lose anyone under contract this summer. Everyone has improved in the last 12 months and everyone's got another level to go up, too.
"The next step is that we produce the form of the last 12-14 games for an entire season, and then we become a football club that isn't trying to avoid relegation anymore. But Sunday is a celebration, and what this team has achieved is truly remarkable."
Wolves' Terry Connor: "If we win I can enjoy the last game. But the players, the staff and the fans have given me great support over the past couple of months and I'd like to thank them all for that.
"When [new manager] Stale [Solbakken] comes in to work he'll have the full backing of myself and every member of staff. We'll welcome him like we welcome everyone coming here and we'll give him every chance to succeed in the job."
The title, UEFA Champions League places, UEFA Europa League places and the final relegation spot are still yet to be decided.
Find out exactly what can happen on the final day by clicking here >>
Here, the managers of the 20 Barclays Premier League clubs look forward to what promises to be a day that will live long in the memory:
THE TITLE RACE
Manchester City v Queens Park RangersMan City's Roberto Mancini: "When you play the last game and if you win, you can win the Premier League title, then for sure that is a big game.
"And in this situation, we play against a team in QPR that play to avoid relegation. It will be hard, it will be difficult - more than at Newcastle, more than against Manchester United."
QPR's Mark Hughes: "Our away form is probably the worst in the Premier League, so that doesn't auger well. But it's a one-off game, a huge game for Man City, and maybe City will get nervous about their situation. Stranger things have happened.
"City have the view that if something can go wrong it will go wrong for them, that's how their fans have thought down the years. But they are an outstanding football team and the prize they are going for is the ultimate prize."
Sunderland v Manchester United
Sunderland's Martin O'Neill: "We're a bit-part on Sunday, but it's good to be involved in it. Man City think this will be an easy game for United - but they only took a point from us in two matches this season.
"For us, if we win, we've got a chance of finishing in the top 10, and that's not something I was thinking about a few months ago. It's a terrific effort by the players, because they've won some matches this season they probably had no right to win."
Man Utd's Sir Alex Ferguson: "Do you know what I was doing 29 years ago today [Friday]? I took a wee team - Aberdeen - to beat Real Madrid in a European final wiith 11 players, home-bred, and the oldest player was 27 years of age.
"That's Queens Park Rangers' challenge - to do an Aberdeen. We need something stupid to happen at City, we know that."
THE EUROPEAN PLACES
Everton v Newcastle UnitedEverton's David Moyes: "I said if we finished in the top 10 that would be an acceptable achievement. But I don't think you ever want to be saying finishing 10th - or seventh - is that good. The only place you want to finish is first.
"Maybe in the Premier League it is slightly different because getting in a Champions League spot is seen as success. I wouldn't say 10th is successful, I would say it is adequate, a decent return for us."
Newcastle's Alan Pardew: "We can be very proud of what we've achieved here, and the players have done brilliantly. It's been a fantastic season - to finish fifth would be a marvellous achievement anyway.
"Sunday will play out, and we'll hear about other things happening during the game. A lot can happen on the last day and there's a lot to play for. To be competing for the Champions League is more than we could have imagined."
Tottenham Hotspur v Fulham
Tottenham's Harry Redknapp: "If we can finish third it will be great, but if we finish fourth that would still be a great achievement.
"I don't think we've finished above Chelsea too many times since the Premier League started have we? So that's good."
Fulham's Martin Jol: "I'm very satisfied with how we've done this season, especially after the start and all those games we had to play to get into the Europa League proper. In the last 20-odd matches we'd be in the top five in the League.
"We could finish eighth if results go our way, but the only thing that matters is that we get a good result at Spurs. I don't think it will be emotional for me; hopefully it won't be very emotional for the Spurs fans either. But Spurs will always be in my heart."
West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal
West Brom assistant Keith Downing: "We want to finish with more points than last year and finish in the top 10. And also we want to win for two people: Roy Hodgson, for the 16 months of fantastic work he's put in; and Dave Matthews, the kit man who's been here for 50-odd years.
"It's an important day for everybody. We've laid a lot of hoodoos to rest this season and we know the magnitude of the game on Sunday. Arsenal are a superb side and credit to them for getting themselves in the position they are in now."
Arsenal's Arsene Wenger: "Defensively we were poor against Norwich, but we were trying to hard to win the game. All of a sudden it wasn't in our hands, but the other teams failed to take advantage and that was a big lift for us.
"If you look at how far back in the League we have come from to be in the position we are now in, it's really remarkable. We have a massive game in front of us, but I feel we're focused and switched on."
THE RELEGATION PLACE
[See also Man City v QPR]Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers
Stoke's Tony Pulis: "I'm just focused on doing what we do. Owen [Coyle] has his own responsibilities, he has got his football club to look after and he has to manage the week the way he has to manage the week.
"I can guarantee everybody that we'll be running around and we'll do our best and if we win the game, brilliant, if we don't, it's still been a great season for us."
Bolton's Owen Coyle: "I truly believe we will stay up. I know we are capable of going and winning a tough game at a tough venue. We have players who can score goals - to win games you must score goals - and we can do that.
"We can still be smiling on Sunday night. To do that we have to give a huge performance."
THE OTHER MATCHES
Chelsea v Blackburn RoversChelsea's Roberto di Matteo: "Our schedule has been crazy. We've played many more games than our opposition and I don't have any regrets. We've pushed the players and they've responded fantastically. To be able to play in the Champions League final is incredible.
"I couldn't ask for any more from any of them. We've tried to win every game and sometimes the other team was better. We wanted to finish fourth, so that's the disappointment. But it could still be a great season."
Blackburn's Steve Kean: "We got to focus on the Chelsea match and then look to build a squad that hits the ground running and gets us out of the Championship at the first attempt.
"In the short term, I want to keep the majority of this squad together. We know we have to bounce back as quickly as possible because it gets harder."
Norwich City v Aston Villa
Norwich's Paul Lambert: "You hope that the players are going to keep kicking on and driving on. I don't want to be up here one season and then go down again.
"You want to keep kicking on. And they're young enough to keep that hunger and to keep going. That's testament to them that they want to keep on improving."
Aston Villa's Alex McLeish: "We got over the line, there's obviously a bit of relief there. People expect us to be higher up the table because our name's Aston Villa, but sometimes there are reasons for that not to be the case.
"We've under-achieved for this football club in terms of past history, no doubt. But we've lost experienced players at crucial times and we've missed Darren Bent, his goals would've got us a bit higher up."
Swansea City v Liverpool
Swansea's Brendan Rodgers: "Both teams have a lot to play for. Liverpool will try to finish as high as they possibly can. There's a demand on a club like Liverpool to win every single game. The performance during the week [against Chelsea] was exceptional.
"And as always we are at home, we always expect to do well. We will have a great celebration and hopefully we will have a performance and a result on top of that."
Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish: "We want to do as well as we possibly can in every game we play for this football club. To win a trophy this year is a good result and to get to the FA Cup final is a good result - and to get in the Europa League is a measure of success.
"We're not happy finishing below anybody in the table, we want to be finishing above everybody."
Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wigan's Roberto Martinez: "I don't expect to lose anyone under contract this summer. Everyone has improved in the last 12 months and everyone's got another level to go up, too.
"The next step is that we produce the form of the last 12-14 games for an entire season, and then we become a football club that isn't trying to avoid relegation anymore. But Sunday is a celebration, and what this team has achieved is truly remarkable."
Wolves' Terry Connor: "If we win I can enjoy the last game. But the players, the staff and the fans have given me great support over the past couple of months and I'd like to thank them all for that.
"When [new manager] Stale [Solbakken] comes in to work he'll have the full backing of myself and every member of staff. We'll welcome him like we welcome everyone coming here and we'll give him every chance to succeed in the job."
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