The former Liverpool midfielder believes that the tough approach by old-school managers should not be seen as bullying in the modern game
Liverpool legend Steve McManaman believes modern day footballers need to learn how to accept criticism and suggested a disciplined brand of man management like that used by Jose Mourinho should not be condemned as bullying.
Manchester United boss Mourinho has come under fire for publicly criticising his players during his reign at Old Trafford, with his no-nonsense treatment of Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba coming in for scrutiny.
However, McManaman believes that ‘old-school’ management can still be effective, even in a society that no longer tolerates the kind of colourful language that used to be the norm in football dressing rooms.
“I don’t think what they call the old school style of management is redundant, but players have changed and maybe managers and coaching staff have to adapt to that,”.
“Footballers are more fragile than they used to be, there is no doubt about that, but I still feel there is a place in game for a good telling off when the moment is right.
“We see managers like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola and they appear to have found the perfect balance between having the players under control and getting a good rapport with them.
“That is obviously going to be easier when you are winning games most week and what we saw in the recent documentary looking behind the scenes at Man City was that Guardiola can scream and shout with the best of them.
“I’m sure Klopp does the same when the time is right and the Liverpool players all seem to be enjoying working in his set-up.
“Then you look at someone like Jose Mourinho at Manchester United and he has a slightly different approach. He is more open in his criticism of players at times, but I don’t have a problem with that.
“I never minded a manager moaning and shouting at me as long as it was constructive and 99 per cent of the time, he was right and I appreciated the need to improve. I also knew my team-mates and my father would tell me I had played badly and that would make me even more disappointed. I never saw criticism or being shouted at as bullying.”
