Anthony Evgenidis
“War of Words” sounds a lot like a classic spy movie starring Matt Damon. The title gives you the impression that there is a “cold war” tension between two heads of state, or even perhaps a major international issue hanging in the balance. The reality is far more severe and nerve-racking than the above. We are talking about something of the utmost importance, a subject that affects an entire continent of people of all faiths and economic backgrounds. This is the Cuban missile crisis multiplied by ten. We are talking about football managers and their interaction known as the “War of Words.”
Mind games, trash talking, smack talk, war of words, talking through the press, you name it we love it and can’t get enough of it. Football managers are grown men who are in charge of a team of professionals playing a child’s game, and despite being adults they really are kids at heart. Certainly if you watch a manager’s reaction following a win, loss or goal you can certainly see the child within them. Their body language and actions during those tense moments reveal that managers never really grow up, they just get older.
Recently Rafael Benitez went on what can only be described as the “rant of 2009”. The day before his Liverpool side took on Stoke City, Rafa let everyone and anyone who would listen know, that Sir Alex Ferguson was “killing the referees”. Benitez presented what he called “facts” to assert that Manchester United “are nervous because we are at the top of the table”, and that he in no way wanted to play mind games. The funny thing is that words in fact do matter, more so than players or managers will ever admit.
If you are still keeping score in the Rafa vs. Fergie battle, put the check mark next to Fergie. Ever since Benitez made his remarks his team has drawn two consecutive league games which they were favoured in, and are now level with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League. United were seven points behind Liverpool not too long ago, and now they are firmly in the driver’s seat with one game in hand. If United win the League this year the Benitez rant will definitely be remembered for the change of momentum it created in the title race. You be the judge of if those comments were a good idea, and if they had any effect on the players’ psyche.
There is no statistic or evidence out there that can prove a championship has been won or lost based on the media’s involvement. Managers often use that medium as a weapon and tool to motivate their team, and even intimidate opponents. They have taken shots at one another through the press, and this has become an integral part of the game thanks to advances in technology. Many believe that the media is an enormous equalizer for teams because it keeps people in check, and is easily accessible for everyone. It adds another dimension to sporting events that cannot be measured by numbers or facts. Teams have been disrespected and labelled underdogs many a time, and this provides more than enough ammunition for a team to come together to overturn the odds.
There have been many teams late during a season that have collapsed due to outside pressure. To win the league, or a major European trophy in today’s game, it is not sufficient enough to merely field a strong squad. You need a mentally strong team, that will not buckle under the pressure and coverage it will receive. Managers know this all too well, and they do their best to transfer that to their opponents.
Nowadays within seconds of a manager or player making a controversial comment it will be featured on ESPN, Sky Sports, or some other sports network. Analysts and former managers will dissect the comments, and assess the potential influence they may carry with them. Even Football Manager, one of the most successful computer games in recent years, has added more media interaction opportunities for gameplay. That implementation is a direct result of the feedback the game designers received from fans.
The very best in the business would have to be Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson. He has built a reputation over the years for being the ultimate master of manipulating the press. He has been accused of intimidating referees, influencing title races, and of course playing “mind games”. His domestic accomplishments are highlighted by 10 Premier League titles, two League Cups and five FA Cups over his tenure. That’s without even mentioning his two Champions League trophies or other accomplishments. The facts without a doubt prove that Mr. Ferguson is guilty as charged. You could argue Ferguson would not be so successful if he solely focused on managing his team and keeping to himself. Being guilty in this case is more of a compliment than anything else, because it’s one thing to beat a team, and it is quite another to beat them before you even set foot in the stadium. It is no coincidence that the object of this most recent attack has been Ferguson; he is a clear threat to Liverpool’s title aspirations. There would otherwise be no need to even speak out against him.
Coaches like Bernd Schuster and Srečko Katanec have been fired in recent years, and for what you might ask? They weren’t fired because of a specific result or string of results. They both made comments regarding a rival that unsettled the team’s board. Schuster intimated Real Madrid could not defeat hated challenger Barcelona in their upcoming game, and Katanec (former Olympiacos coach) stated that a win vs. league rival AEK Athens was “not the end of the world”. You be the judge of if that kind of interaction is the sort of message you want your team’s leader to convey. Never the less they were fired and those comments had a lot to do with it.
Rewind to 1996, and more specifically to the close title race between Newcastle United and Manchester United. Both teams for the majority of the season were battling at the top of the league table, and the both teams fought for the title right down to the wire. Kevin Keegan the Newcastle manager famously had a rant of epic proportions that to this day remains embedded in peoples’ memories. His famous “I will love it if we beat them” rant demonstrated that his counterpart successfully got into his head and had the edge in their war of words. Manchester United ended up winning the league by four points over Newcastle. Yet another check mark for Fergie.
Managerial and media interactions are forms of art, and their moments captivate us during the weeks and days leading up to a game. Who can forget the presentation of Jose Mourinho as Chelsea coach, where he famously anointed himself as “the special one”? Mourinho during his Chelsea tenure was one of the very best at creating a united front for his team. He created an “us against the world” foxhole mentality, and that became the distinctive characteristic with which his teams have been known for. Mourinho has an interesting quote where he talks about interaction with the press, and how it is part of “the game”. So the last word on the subject can go to the Portuguese, who summed up the increasing part that the media is now playing in football.
"When I go to the press conference before the game, in my mind the game has already started.”
