The determination of Manchester City players to show a defiant face to John Terry at Stamford Bridge on Saturday had been planned for some weeks, according to midfielder Nigel de Jong.
'The Terry affair had a massive impact on our squad,' said De Jong, expressing his support for Wayne Bridge, whose former fiancee conducted an affair with Terry.
'You can bet we were up for the Chelsea game. Believe me, we are doing it for Wayne.
'There was no other subject to talk about. We all supported Wayne, of course, and said to him: "Don't say a thing about it. We'll deal with this".
'For the match against Portsmouth we all wrote "Team Bridge" on our T-shirts underneath. I did not have to think twice about that. That's a thing you do for your team-mate.'
But De Jong, speaking to Dutch magazine Sportweek, did unintentionally reveal the curiously warped moral code by which some players operate.
'You don't touch the wife of a team-mate,' he said. 'That really is a code in football. Doing something with the wife of a player from another club is something different, but what Terry did is not done. They used to share the same dressing room and they were mates.'
And as a parting shot, De Jong said: 'Wayne does not have to worry as much any more about the papers. They have a new victim with Ashley Cole.'
SURPRISING B*LL*X
Manchester City midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips has crowned former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho as his favourite ever manager.
The self-styled 'Special One' is a surprise choice for the England international, whose chances at Stamford Bridge under the Portuguese tactician were limited during his three-year stay.
Despite making so few starts in Chelsea's 2005-06 season that he missed out on a place in Sven Goran Eriksson's 2006 World Cup squad, Wright-Phillips believes the lessons he learnt were invaluable.
"The training was geared towards the way players like to play," he told The Independent.
"It was amazing, quick, fast. If you needed to try things to make you improve it was always there in the session."
As well as appreciating Mourinho's coaching tactics, the 28-year-old credits the Inter boss with an honourable approach to man-management.
"Mourinho was good; a very good family man," said Wright-Phillips.
"If people had children and there were days we had to come in he would let you bring kids in and mess about with them while the training session was going on."
Wright-Phillips is currently adapting to playing under a new manager in the shape of Roberto Mancini, following the departure of Mark Hughes from Eastlands in December.
The City winger will not judge the two managers against each other - but he is in no doubt that Hughes made a positive impact at the club.
"Of course we were shocked," he said. "Everybody has different ways of managing. Mark Hughes managed the way he managed and we lost one game.
"Everybody manages differently and as far as I'm concerned the results are the only thing that counts."
City have now lost four games, and while Wright-Phillips admits they are having to adapt to his tactical changes, he is keen to praise Mancini.
And one area of his management that the Blues star is particularly impressed with is his willingness to give academy players like Dedryck Boyata and Abdi Ibrahim their chances.
"I hope they don't stop bringing all the young players through, because this place has a good record," he said.
"At Chelsea there were people underneath of a certain age who didn't get a chance and it could damage their confidence."
TRANSFER BOLLOX
David Moyes has warned Manchester United to keep their hands off Everton starlet Jack Rodwell. Sunday Mirror
West Ham will not stand in Robert Green's way if any of the Premier League's top four move in on the England goalkeeper. Sunday Mirror
Former Scotland international striker Paul Dickov will sign for League One side Leeds on Monday despite keen interest from MLS side Toronto. Mail on Sunday
WAG OF THE DAY
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OTHER BOLLOX
Depressed Ashley Cole tells pals he may quit football after the collapse of his marriage to wife Cheryl Cole.
Sunday Mirror
Sunderland's Kieran Richardson should be considered for England's up-for-grabs left-back spot at the World Cup, according to his club manager Steve Bruce. Daily Mail
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill dismisses talk of him becoming the next Manchester United manager. Sunday Telegraph
O'Neill has ruled himself out of what he calls the impossible job, replacing Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United boss. Sunday Mirror
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is set for showdown talks with Spain coach Vicente del Bosque over his plan to play Fernando Torres in this week's friendly with France. Sunday Mirror
MK Dons are considering replacing manager Paul Ince with ex-Reading boss Brendan Rodgers. Mail on Sunday
Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric admits he feared he might never recover from his broken leg in August. News of the World
Defender Brede Hangeland insists he had no doubts about staying at Fulham and says he has been proved right by the club's stunning run in Europe. News of the World
A few loyal Accrington Stanley fans brought along their patio heaters to thaw out the pitch before their clash with Burton Albion at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.
(Sunday Express)
OBSESSED BOLLOX
Fergie takes swipe at Man City by hailing Richard Dunne 'buy of the season'
Sir Alex Ferguson has had another pop at rivals Manchester City ahead of today’s Carling Cup Final - telling the Blues they blundered by selling Richard Dunne to Aston Villa.
Manchester United knocked City out of the competition in the semi-final to set up a Wembley date with Martin O’Neil’s men. And Ferguson says the Villa boss pulled off the transfer coup of the season when he landed Dunne for £5million last summer.
Ferguson, speaking in the official match programme, said: “Martin has done a good job in a quiet way without spending a great deal.
“He has bought very wisely and signing Dunne is the buy of the season. £5m for him was outstanding business. Martin has done a terrific job. They are a professional, organised team and they have improved with the addition of Richard Dunne and James Collins.”
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