Manchester United
Javier Hernandez feels he has plenty of work to do before he can be compared to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former Manchester United sharp-shooter. The Norwegian hit-man has returned home to begin his management career with Molde, having left behind a mountain of happy memories, top of which is that injury-time winner in the 1999 Champions League final. Yet, already, it seems Hernandez, 22, is being regarded with similar affection and following his late winner at West Bromwich Albion, Sir Alex Ferguson admitted there was something of Solskjaer in the Mexican new boy. But Hernandez shrugs off such accolades. "It is great motivation for me when people say these things but I would say no," he said. "I need to work a lot to be like him."
Chelsea
Frank Lampard admits the Champions League has become the "Holy Grail" for Chelsea as he revealed his desperation to land club football's biggest prize. Chelsea came within a penalty kick of winning the tournament two and a half years ago when they were beaten by Manchester United in the final. Lampard has also been on the losing side in four semi-finals in the past seven years. And despite having won three Premier League titles and three FA Cups over the same period, he insists his medal collection will not be complete without a Champions League gold. "I have won three leagues and quite a lot of the group have won one or more," Lampard told Chelsea TV. "But we have been so close to the Champions League, it does become a bit of a Holy Grail and I think the fans feel that."
Sunderland
Jordan Henderson, the Sunderland midfielder, is refusing to allow dreams of European qualification distract him from his mission. The 20-year-old has helped Sunderland climb into sixth place in the Premier League with 30 points, but he said: "I don't think we can think about Europe. We just need to concentrate on one game at a time and at the end of the season, see where we finish. We are in a good position at the minute, but the league is that tight, a couple of results either way and you could be up or down."
Stoke City
Dean Whitehead has warned title-chasing Manchester United they will have to contend with a "buzzing" Stoke City side at Old Trafford tomorrow. The 28-year-old midfielder believes the Potters are now capable of surprising the Premier League leaders after beginning 2011 with an uplifting 2-0 victory over Everton which put them eighth in the table. Whitehead said: "Everyone is buzzing after a win like that. To get the win means a lot to us - the players, the fans, everybody. Now we have to lift again and get ready for Man United on Tuesday. The games come thick and fast and we have got to make sure we get the bodies right. Hopefully we can go there with a bit of confidence and maybe nick a result there."
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal are "tougher mentally" this season to cope with the demands of challenging for the Premier League title. Wenger feels the growing maturity of his players means they are well equipped for the battles ahead and they lie in third spot - two points behind the two Manchester clubs. He said: "We are tougher mentally this season because we have matured. Players are now in the 23-years-of-age bracket and starting to get experience. What they are doing is outstanding at that age. They want to win and they have learned from the previous years."