Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
Outlook
Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.
Asked the manager for a private conversation
Moderate
Cause
He has unresolved concerns over his contract. His relationship with the manager is steady but tense. He has already raised this with the manager recently.
Outlook
Contract request risk increased.
Unsettled by the squad wage hierarchy
Serious
Cause
The squad's wage hierarchy is the underlying issue. The gap to the squad's top earners has become a daily reminder.
Outlook
Contract request risk increased.
Criticised in a full-time post-mortem
Minor
Cause
It was a private show of faith after a tough recent run. The message was about confidence as much as performance — his morale had been low.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Left out of the matchday squad
Moderate
Cause
The current formation has no natural role for him.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Led the defence in a tight match
Minor
Cause
He held the back line together when the game was hanging in the balance.
Reassured by a calm full-time message
Minor
Cause
The team had won, and the manager wanted to reinforce the standards. The message was about confidence as much as performance — his morale had been low.
Outlook
Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.
The disagreement started because they judged training effort very differently. It played out on the training ground in front of the rest of the squad.
Outlook
Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.
Rotated out for this match
Minor
Cause
The current formation has no natural role for him.
Outlook
Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.
Reassured by a calm full-time message
Minor
Cause
The team had won, and the manager wanted to reinforce the standards. The message was about confidence as much as performance — his morale had been low.
Outlook
Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.