IT’S SQUEAKY BUM time in the Premier League, and while managers haven’t disappointed thus far this season with their outlandish post-match interviews, we are approaching what is traditionally the time of the season where they lose the run of themselves completely.
To celebrate we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite quips below, and feel free to also add your own in the comments section below.
1. “I didn’t see it.”
Said when… a player commits a particularly heinous, utterly indefensible foul.
2. “At the end of the day.”
Said when… David O’Leary is interviewed.
3. “The referee needs to take a long, hard look at himself.”
Said when… the manager can’t be bothered avoiding the post-match fine.
4. “I accept responsibility for the loss.”
Said when… the manager’s team has lost so badly that he cannot blame the referee.
5. “There was a lot of honesty in that dressing room.”
Said when… the team is on the brink of falling out with each other.
6. “I think the better team lost.”
Said when… The marginally better team won.
7. “I don’t want to criticise the refereeing, but…”
Said when… the manager is about to criticise the refereeing.
8. “We’re just focused on the next game…”
Said when… a team has a decent chance of winning the title/getting relegated.
9. “I think we edged it…”
Said when… a team was clearly bossed in a score draw.”
10. “Those decisions even themselves out over the course of a season.”
Said when… a bad decision benefits the team of the interviewee.
11. “I’m sorry, I’m not having that.
Said when… a manger is utterly fed up with the referee/his opposite number.
12. “I prefer to focus on my team.”
Said when… a manager clearly wants to criticise the opposition.
13. “I couldn’t be prouder of the lads today.”
Said when… a weaker team has managed to not get too badly beaten by a top side.
14. “I’m going to get myself in trouble.”
Said when… a manager is toying with the idea of laying into a referee and accepting the fine.
15. “The important thing is we got the three points.”
Said when… a striker has effectively won his team the game on his own by scoring a particularly phenomenal hat-trick.
16. “He’ll learn from that.”
Said when… a somewhat inexperienced player has committed a ridiculous error.
17. “He seemed determined to be the centre of attention today.”
Said when… the referee has made a decision that the manager disagrees with.
18. “I thought the support we got was first-class today.”
Said when… a manager is keen to speak in mindless truisms.
Interview styles
The ‘saying nothing while saying everything’ approach
The ‘resorting to manic hyperbole’ approach
The ‘speaking from the gut’ approach
The ‘imitation of a crazy man’ approach
The ‘it’s been a long day’ approach
The ‘Magnificent’ approach
