• Week in Words

'Last season you were seventh'

Louis van Gaal points to where he's hoping to take Manchester United © PA Photos

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In the latest edition of ESPN's Week in Words, Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal gives Manchester United a brutal reminder of what happened last season, Jose Mourinho has a double dig at Arsenal and Tiger Woods aims a bit too high…

"How many times have there been tickets for a weigh-in, you know what I mean?
The UFC's Conor McGregor certainly wasn't lacking in confidence ahead of UFC Fight Night 46 in his native Dublin

"There was a lot of speculation, you know. I think sometimes it's quite disappointing"
Yaya Toure puts an end to the speculation - which he started in the first place, mind - by saying he will stay at Manchester City this season

"I think he really wanted to come. Arsenal had an option where they could interfere, but I don't think he was open to that. He was in our direction so it was easy for me"
Jose Mourinho is starting the mind games early, saying Cesc Fabregas only had eyes for Chelsea

"What gets affected is that a kid at home says if a top football player can smoke then I can smoke and it is not a problem. It is more a social consequence than a physical consequence"
Jose was also on the wind-up with Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere after he was caught smoking on holiday in Las Vegas

"We're good buddies and at the same time we both want to beat up on each other"
Rickie Fowler was hoping to put some pressure on runaway leader Rory McIlroy in Sunday's final round at The Open

"I thought he was joking so I asked him to repeat the question, and he said: 'I need to know if this is really the final'"
Referee Nicola Rizzoli reveals the full extent of German Christoph Kramer's concussion during the World Cup final against Argentina

"Every season you have to prove that [you are the best] and last season you were seventh"
New Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal brutally reminds fans of what happened during the previous campaign under David Moyes

"Pre-season is about the only time watching someone puke is hilarious to everyone, apart from the guy bent double"
In a column for ESPN Scrum, Tom May gives an insight into the horrors of pre-season training

"I don't know who he is"
Whether offensively sincere or simply uninformed, Floyd Mayweather doesn't think much of UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey

"I will sound a bit like Arsene Wenger and say I didn't see it. I genuinely didn't"
Alastair Cook still thinks India are making a "mountain out of a molehill" with their allegations against James Anderson

"English players are probably afraid to come abroad, they're in a comfort zone in England"
Ashley Cole, who spent all of his career in England before signing for Roma at the age of 33

"It's all in my head. I need to go out and pretend like it's a Thursday"
That Rory McIlroy did with aplomb as he put his recent second-round woes behind him at The Open

"First. Anything less than that is unacceptable. That's always been the case"
Tiger Woods, who is in danger of recording his lowest 72-hole finish in a major as a professional

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