page_title: Premier League 20 Seasons Awards
section_title: Most Memorable Quote
hierarchical_section_title: Premier League 20 Seasons Awards / Awards / Most Memorable Quote
caption_attribution_description: English: English football (soccer) manager en:Kevin Keegan
context_page_description: The Premier League 20 Seasons Awards were a set of English football awards which marked the first 20 years of competition in the Premier League, the top-level domestic league competition of professional football in England. The awards celebrated the first two decades of the Premier League, which was formed in 1992 when the 22 clubs of the old First Division resigned en-masse from The Football League. Awards were presented in a number of categories for both teams and individuals, covering the period from the inaugural 1992–93 season which kicked off in August 1992, through to the 2011–12 season, which ended on 13 May 2012. Voting ended on 30 April 2012. Awards included best manager, best player and best goal.
context_section_description: The quote of "I would love it if we beat them. Love it!", declared live on television by Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan on 29 April 1996, was chosen as Most Memorable Quote by a panel of judges. Keegan was speaking about Newcastle's Premier League title rivals Manchester United, in the closing stages of the 1995–96 season.
  Going into the penultimate weekend of the season (27/28/29 April), the race for the title was now just between Manchester United and Newcastle, and both teams had won 1–0 at home in mid-week on Wednesday 17 April, Manchester United against Leeds, Newcastle against Southampton. Manchester United were now top with 76 points with two games to play, with Newcastle three points behind, but with a game in hand.
  Following their win against Leeds on Wednesday, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson had suggested after that match that the Leeds team were "cheating" their manager by trying harder against Manchester United (with whom they had a noted rivalry) compared to when they played other teams. This was interpreted as an attempt by Ferguson to get the Leeds team to play better against Newcastle, who were due to play them in their next match on Monday 29 April.
  In that penultimate weekend of the season, Manchester United demolished Nottingham Forest 5–0 at home on Sunday 28 April extending their lead to 6 points and putting the pressure on Newcastle for their game away to Leeds at their Elland Road ground. In the game, Leeds did appear to up their game, but Newcastle still won 1–0. After the game however, live on Sky Sports an 'emotional' Keegan made his speech, pointing his finger to the camera:
  When you do that with footballers like he said about Leeds, and when you do things like that about a man like Stuart Pearce. I've kept really quiet but I'll tell you something, he went down in my estimations when he said that. We have not resorted to that. You can tell him now, we're still fighting for this title and he's got to go to Middlesbrough and get something. And I'll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it. But it really has got to me. I've voiced it live, not in front of the press or anywhere. I'm not even going to the press conference. But the battle is still on and Man United have not won this yet.
  Manchester United went on to win the title by four points after Keegan's Newcastle drew their last two games 1-1.
  The Keegan quote also won the Premier League 10 Seasons Awards in April 2003.
  Four other quotes were also short-listed for the panel of judges vote for Most Memorable Quote:
  Eric Cantona, 1995
  When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much.
  Alan Hansen, 1995
  The trick is always buy when you're strong so he needs to buy
   players. You can't win anything with kids. You look at that line up Manchester United had today and Aston Villa at quarter past two when they get the team sheet, it’s just going to give them a lift and it will  happen every time he plays the kids. He's got to buy players, as simple as that.
  Sir Alex Ferguson, 2003
  We have to carry on doing our best. It's getting tickly now – squeaky-bum time, I call it. It's going to be an interesting few weeks and the standard of the Premiership is such that nothing will be easy.
  José Mourinho, 2004
  Please don't call me arrogant because what I'm saying is true. I'm European champion so I'm not one of the bottle. I think I'm a special one.
caption: Kevin Keegan's "I would love it..." quotation won the Most Memorable Quote award.
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