Football is a team sport. Yes, one can venerate Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as much as needed, but the point remains that the team/club is the entity that earns the trophies. Managers need each and every member of their team onside to win trophies, although sometimes the mentality of perennial winners in the squad means that there will be a clash with a manager.
Football has seen plenty of feuds between managers and players, but often it remains avoidable, as the people in question share similar qualities that clash over petty issues. The relationship usually ends with the departure of one of the duo from the club, a needless situation were the pair to put aside the small things.
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Here are 7 player-manager feuds that we would like to see reversed.
1) Carlo Ancelotti – Mesut Ozil
Carlo Ancelotti has been managing teams for the past 20 years. A common theme amongst most of the players he has managed is how excellent at man-management Ancelotti is, with the Italian rarely ever finding himself in a feud with one of his players. Thus, it was particularly surprising when Ancelotti let Mesut Ozil leave Real Madrid for Arsenal.
The German was pivotal for Los Blancos, with Ronaldo bemoaning Ozil’s departure, citing him as crucial to his scoring record. Ancelotti was having none of it, slamming Ozil for lacking the fight to stay, saying “Ozil wasn't comfortable. I knew he'd been speaking with another club because he wanted to leave.”
“Mesut understood that he had competition, that he wouldn't be able to play every game - and 'I'm off' was his answer. I prefer to have Angel Di Maria for the team's balance. Di Maria is better than Ozil for group dynamics.”
It was rather obvious after all those disparaging comments that Ozil would not take too kindly to it, but the German’s only response has been a steely silence. Given Arsenal’s current capitulation in the Premier League, Ozil might move to another European giant, and Ancelotti’s next club Bayern Munich might be the ideal club for him.
Ozil is much like the Italian, with an unwavering focus on football, preferring to let results do the talking, and it would be lovely to see the Real Madrid pair reunite and dominate German football.
2) Jose Mourinho – Juan Mata
Juan Mata’s career at Chelsea pre-Mourinho could not have gone any better, with the Spaniard being voted the Chelsea fans Player of the Season two years in a row. When Jose made a much-celebrated return to the club, Mata looked primed to be the main man that the Portuguese would build his new-look Chelsea side around.
However, as things turned out Mourinho wanted as little to do with Mata as possible, frequently benching the Spaniard in favour of young Brazilian tyro, Oscar. Mourinho explained his reasoning, a veiled criticism of the lack of defensive work Mata put in, saying “It is one thing to play with Ramires and Oscar closing down opponents on each side, and Mata as a No10 behind a striker with his clever assists, clever passes, and fantastic actions because he has great talent.”
“But it is another thing to adapt to the way we want to play. In this moment, Oscar is my No10 and, if anyone tells me Oscar has not been Chelsea's best player this season, I'd have to disagree. I have to prove to the fans that I am good. Now [Mata] must do the same.”
Mata’s frustration came to the boil in his last Chelsea appearance when he was substituted. The Spaniard ignored his manager on the touchline and complained to his teammates on the bench. The reaction ought not to have been much of a surprise, given Mata later revealed “For better or for worse, we had no relationship. There was no dialogue. I was not happy.”
With Louis van Gaal’s current job perilously hanging by a thread,Mourinho looks all but set to take over at Manchester United, the club that purchased Mata from Chelsea. It would serve the duo well to put aside their difficulties, for Manchester United could surely use an inspirational Mourinho backing Juan Mata to show his best form.
3) Pep Guardiola – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a famously well-travelled player, having won league titles galore and plying his trade among some of the best managers in the world. The Swede has nothing but praise for most of them, showering praise on managers like Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho, but Pep Guardiola is the biggest exception, with Ibrahimovic being extremely uncomplimentary about the Catalan.
It had started rather well, with Guardiola willing to get rid of Samuel Eto’o and pay €69.5 million in total to bring Zlatan from Inter Milan. However, with Lionel Messi gradually grabbing the spotlight and aiming to play the central striker role, the Swede found himself alienated, reported speaking to his manager just twice in six months.
Guardiola hinted at something bad, saying “If Ibra and I have spoken only twice in six months, there is a reason, but it is better for the club if I don’t talk about it..” Ibrahimovic was reported furious at the treatment, throwing traning gear and verbally abusing Guardiola in one outburst, only for the Catalan to not engage.
The Swede described Guardiola as a ‘spineless coward' in his autobiography and later went on to attack the Catalan personally, saying “Whatever happened, as a coach he was fantastic. As a person, I have no comments about that. That is something else. He is not a man. There’s nothing more to say.”
Ibrahimovic’s departure from Barcelona was inevitable, and the club’s success later vindicated Guardiola’s decision on the football pitch. However, with Ibrahimovic looking to play in the Premier League and Guardiola set to take over at Manchester City, it might be time for the duo to bury the hatchet.
4) Samir Nasri – Didier Deschamps
Didier Deschamps was coach of Samir Nasri when he was a young 8 year old – one wuld assume that the duo would have the strongest of bonds, having known each other for the past two decades. However, as things stand, Nasri hates Deschamps – and his presence at the helm of France’s national team has caused the Manchester City midfielder to retire from international football.
Nasri labelled Deschamps a ‘hypocrite’ and joker’ when being interviewd by L’Equipe a few years earlier. Just how exactly has their relationship deteriorated so badly? Right before the 2014 World Cup, Nasri had aided Manchester City to the title, however Deschamps left him out of the squad, citing attitude issues.
“If a person who is an example of sincerity and frankness told me something, I'd consider it, but Nasri is not that type of person”, is how Deschamps describes Nasri. Nasri hit back later, saying “I'm angry with him for what he did to me. To deprive me of a World Cup when I had done everything on the pitch to be there – I'll never forget that.”
Deschamps responded, saying “Apparently, he says he is happier without the France team. Without him, France are continuing perfectly fine.” With France set to play the 2016 Euros without Karim Benzema, pehaps it is time Deschamps buries the hatchet and recalls Nasri, with the City midfielder likely to be fresh, having only recently returned from a long term injury.
5) Louis van Gaal – Angel di Maria
Months after a man-of-the-match performance in the UEFA Champions League final with Real Madrid and guiding Argentina to the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Manchester United parted with a record £59.7 million to sign Angel di Maria. When he scored 3 goals and assisted 3 goals in his opening 5 games, it looked like Louis van Gaal had a superstar to build his side around.
However, what followed was quite pitiful, as Di Maria had his confidence shaken as he struggled to the Dutchman’s famed ‘philosophy, with Van Gaal admitting as much, saying “Some players cannot adapt to the team philosophy. That you cannot know in advance. You have to see that.”
Di Maria suffered the ignominy of being benched with Ashley Young preferred, and then moved to Paris Saint-German in the summer. Di Maria later reflected on the move, saying “I didn’t get on very well with the coach, so I think the decision to join Paris was the best solution.”
Di Maria pinpointed Van Gaal’s philosophy and a change in position as reasons for his leaving, saying “Van Gaal has his philosophy and one of the things that made me want to leave is that. It is difficult to adapt to Van Gaal. I had a couple of rows with him. I started well and after that I got injured.Things didn't go well for me and Van Gaal changed my position.”
Given Manchester United’s failings this season, coupled with Di Maria’s stunning form for PSG, it seems rather obvious that were Louis van Gaal to put his philosophy aside, Di Maria could fire Manchester United to the summit of the Premier League next season.
6) Luciano Spaletti – Francesco Totti
In Luciano Spalletti’s first spell at AS Roma, the Italian manager had a brainwave that reignited Francesco Totti’s career and propelled a floundering Roma to two Coppa Italia’s and a Supercoppa. The brainwave? Moving Totti, an attacking midfielder/support striker by trade, to a lone striker formation, although it was more of a ‘false 9’ role.
Totti flourished, having one of his best goalscoring spells of his career. However, Il Bimbo d’Oro has struggled to deal with Spalletti’s latest brainwave – leaving the Roma captain out of the starting lineup and only giving him a few minutes at the end of games, usually with Roma chasing the game.
It led to an explosive interview on Italy's national television network, with Totti threatening to leave the club, saying “I can’t stay at Roma like this. It hurts to be on the bench.What is my rapport like with Spalletti? We say ‘good morning’ and ‘good evening.’ That’s it.”
The polite relationship worsened further after Totti grabbed a late equaliser against Bologna, with reports of a dressing room altercation between the pair circulating the Italian press, although Spalletti denied any such incident later.
Days later, Totti inspired Roma to an incredible victory against Torino, coming back from 2-1 down in the 85th minute when he came on, with the Roma legend scoring twice with two touches in a 3 minute spell, to leave the Curva Sud in tears of joy as Roma won 3-2.
Perhaps Spalletti will soften his stance after Totti’s heroics, and the duo can revisit the succees that they enjoyed together in Spalletti’s first spell at the club.
7) Jose Mourinho – Iker Casillas
It's a subject that divides many Madridistas – who ought to they be loyal to when Jose Mourinho and Iker Casillas sparred for power at the helm of Real Madrid. Given that this is Mourinho's second appearance on this list, perhaps they have their answer.
The soap-opera began in the aftermath of the Clasico that took place after Barcelona demolished Real Madrid 5-0. Real Madrid employed a defnesive strategy and drew the game 1-1, although what was surprising was that the lineup was leaked to the press hours before the game, with Casillas a chief suspect, given his girlfriend, Sara Carbonero was a journalist.
Things came to a head in the following Clasico, as Pepe was sent off for a foul on Messi, resulting in a brawl that had Mourinho poking Tito Vilanova in the eye. As the national team captain, Casillas held a 'clear the air’ phone call with Xavi and Puyol, but Mourinho considered that a further betrayal.
Casillas later revealed that this resulted in a complete breakdown of his relationship with Mourinho, saying “It didn't sit well with him [Mourinho] that I spoke with someone from Barcelona to ease the tension in the national team.”
Mourinho also had harsh words for Casillas, saying “Just as Casillas can say he would prefer another coach such as [Vicente] Del Bosque or [Manuel] Pellegrini, I can say that I prefer Diego Lopez.”
Both, Casillas and Mourinho have left Madrid, but their final year was wrought with tension, with Casillas saying “I had spoken with him many times, but the last year we didn't speak at all. It was an ugly situation. And I think what I did was for the best.”
Given the stature of the pair, perhaps it would be better for both of them to forget the episode and move on.
