It’s expected that football managers will do all they can to protect their players from adversity, and the idea of criticising them publicly is often frowned upon.
However, there have been a few notable occasions where managers have been left so infuriated by an individual player that they cannot help but express their displeasure to the media.
We take a look at FIVE times managers have publicly criticised one of their players…
Erik ten Hag – Jadon Sancho (2023)
The most recent example came in an unexpected outburst from Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag following Sunday’s defeat to Arsenal.
When asked to explain why Jadon Sancho had been omitted from the squad, ten Hag ruthlessly explained how the England international had fallen short of his expectations on the training pitch in recent weeks and that his performances were not up for scratch.
Sancho did little to help his cause, immediately issuing a response on Twitter by accusing the club of making him a scapegoat and disagreeing completely with ten Hag’s claims.
Jose Mourinho – Luke Shaw (2017)
Jose Mourinho has never been one to shy away from expressing exactly how he feels to the media, and his condemning of Luke Shaw during his reign as Manchester United manager ranks as one of his most memorable outbursts too date.
Following a Premier League draw at Old Trafford a reporter had asked Mourinho to comment on Shaw’s good performance at left-back, only for the ‘Special One’ to reply: “It was his body with my brain.”
Mourinho explained in greater detail how he was instructing Shaw from the sidelines to ensure he made good decisions and was always in the correct positions.
The pair’s relationship soured with Mourinho later admitting that he was perhaps too brutal in damaging Shaw’s confidence at the time.
Harry Redknapp – Adel Taarabt (2014)
A true press conference for the ages as Harry Redknapp brutally picked apart star man Adel Taarabt for being “three stone” overweight and being unable to help luckless QPR.
Redknapp explained how Taarabt had been thrust into a reserves game to try and build up some match fitness ahead of a possible first team return, only for the former QPR boss to tell the media: “He’s not fit, he’s not fit to play football, unfortunately.
“He played in a reserve game the other day and I could have run about more than he did.”
Redknapp continued his verbal assault by claiming Taarabt was unwilling to try and get fit in order to help QPR stave off relegation.
Jose Mourinho – Tanguy Ndombele (2020)
Unsurprisingly another entry from Mourinho, who left Tanguy Ndombele’s Tottenham career in serious doubt by hauling him off at half time against Burnley to then publicly shame him afterwards.
Mourinho criticised the slow nature of Ndombele’s adaptation to the Premier League and suggested he couldn’t keep sacrificing the team by giving the Frenchman opportunities.
Ndombele didn’t take well to the public bashing and the pair still have a very frosty relationship to this day, as Mourinho reportedly found out to his cost last summer when trying to lure the midfielder to Roma.
Jurgen Klopp – Dejan Lovren (2017)
Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren was on the receiving end of a Jurgen Klopp berating after a truly woeful performance against Tottenham.
Despite the whole team being way off it at White Hart Lane, Klopp directed his anger at Lovren for his slow reactions and for playing a key part in several of the four goals.
It’s came as quite a shock as Klopp is usually firmly against the idea of singling out individuals for criticism in a public setting but so incensed the Liverpool boss was, he had to vent his anger.
Recognising the error of his ways, Klopp immediately apologised to Lovren and the pair would end the season by winning the Champions League, beating Tottenham in the final.
