100 Quotes by Bryan Robson

I was determined to get it right on the pitch. Then, if I had to leave at the end of the season, so be it. I never felt threatened or isolated by the arrangement. We worked together and it worked out.

If I'd been able to put the collection together in one go, say over two years, we'd have had a special team, most wouldn't stay. One or two glory seasons and they were off. To them, the north-east was too far out. They wanted to be with the big hitters.

Nobody is that thick-skinned that it doesn't hurt you. Still, you always know what happens in football. I have got used to criticism, I suppose, having been high profile with England and Man U.

That didn't happen. Still, I had six pretty good years and one where I didn't reach what I wanted for myself or the club. I don't accept that makes you a bad manager or a poor coach. If that is the view I strongly disagree with it.

The possibility of playing Birmingham in the next round is an exciting proposition for fans in the midlands - but I've not looked too far ahead, because we've got to get past Reading first. I am confident we can do a job in the replay, and I hope the team will see things through.

We spoke about lapses of concentration and things which he had to put right and, in this match, he put it all in. I'm delighted he's taken it on board. I can't consider sending him out on loan again. I've got a squad of players who are still in the cup and have some important league matches coming up. I can understand his concerns. With a World Cup in the summer he needs to impress his manager but, on that performance against Fulham, he can definitely do that.

Yes, I do want to get back into football, I haven't lost the faith. Alex wants to help with my fitness, keeping my edge and maintaining the focus.

If we played like that every week, we wouldn't be so inconsistent.

Paolo di Canio is capable of scoring the goal he scored.