I love the lead-up to big knockout clashes when there are as many whispers over unsettled players and transfer spectulation as there are tactics and formations - i.e. the whole point of what press conferences are called for.

Avram Grant's poor attempt this week at doing a job on Steven Gerrard by repeatedly referencing his near-move to Chelsea rated at about a two on the Richter Scale, but the Barca transfer tittle-tattle has been working overtime with Ronaldinho, Henry and even Puyol spouted as potential departees.

But the one that made me laugh most was the supposed disappearance of Samuel Eto'o.