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 by the manager
Major
Cause
The discussion covered general matters.
Praised by the manager
Major
Cause
The discussion covered general matters.
Rotated out for this match
Minor
Cause
The current formation has no natural role for him.
Outlook
Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.
Frustrated by his tactical role
Major
Cause
A change in shape has shifted what is being asked of him.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Rotated out for this match
Minor
Cause
The current formation has no natural role for him.
Outlook
Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.
Warned about his body language
Moderate
Cause
The issue was less about ability and more about his reaction when things went wrong. Staff had already warned him about this in the last few weeks.
Outlook
Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.
Away supporters were hostile
Moderate
Cause
He drew sustained jeers from the away end.
Reassured by the manager's half-time message
Minor
Cause
The team were behind, and the manager needed a response. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.
Criticised in a full-time post-mortem
Minor
Cause
It was a private show of faith after a tough recent run. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Promised more playing time by the manager
Major
Cause
The discussion focused on playing time.
Rotated out for this match
Minor
Cause
The current formation has no natural role for him.
Outlook
Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.
Manager broke a promise
Serious
Cause
Even an honest tone was resented given the strained relationship.
He has made a formal demand: Out, anywhere
Mind
Manager trust is eroding
Moderate
Cause
The discussion focused on playing time. Staff had already warned him about this in the last few weeks.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Rotated out for this match
Minor
Cause
The current formation has no natural role for him.
Outlook
Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.
He has come to believe: The two of them clashed — Pedro Fernandes
Mind
Mounting media pressure on his form
Warned about his body language
Moderate
Cause
The issue was less about ability and more about his reaction when things went wrong. Staff had already warned him about this in the last few weeks.
Outlook
Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.
Reassured by the manager's half-time message
Minor
Cause
The team were behind, and the manager needed a response. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.
He has started to want: A loan, for games
Mind
Asked the manager for a private conversation
Serious
Cause
He cannot continue in his current tactical role. 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
Moderate
Cause
The current formation has no natural role for him.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Difficult conversation with the manager
Moderate
Cause
The discussion covered general matters.
Praised by the manager
Major
Cause
The discussion covered general matters.
Dropped to the bench
Moderate
Cause
The current formation has no natural role for him.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Frustrated by his tactical role
Serious
Cause
A change in shape has shifted what is being asked of him.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.