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.
Praised privately for his recent performance
Serious
Cause
The discussion focused on his recent performance level.
Asked the manager for a private conversation
Moderate
Cause
His relationship with the manager has soured. His relationship with the manager is steady but tense. He has already raised this with the manager recently.
Outlook
Contract request risk increased.
Dropped to the bench as Shariff Musa was preferred
Moderate
Chosen instead
Shariff Musa was preferred — his higher squad-status priority.
Cause
His squad status would normally start, so the omission stings.
Outlook
Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.
Hurt by being benched for a big match
Serious
Cause
The manager left him out of the starting XI. in the title decider
Outlook
Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.