Postecoglou, Amorim and the art of a post-match interview
2025-02-03
Category: news

Most of us would admit we've said something in the heat of the moment and regretted it.But what about putting your foot in it when millions of people around the world are watching?That's the high-pressure scrutiny football managers face every week - and one that has thrown up more than a few viral moments down the years.Think Kevin Keegan's "I'd love it" rant, Chris Wilder's sandwich snap or Jose Mourinho preferring "not to speak".More recently we've seen Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou fume with a BBC reporter's opening question and Manchester United's Ruben Amorim call his side the "worst team" in history.And this weekend Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens took the trend meta when he said he wouldn't "make excuses" for his side's 1-0 loss because he's "not Ange Postecoglou".So what is the art behind nailing the post-match chat?
Put yourself in a manager's shoes."The adrenaline's absolutely pumping at this stage, but you're expected to give an interview," sports broadcaster and media trainer Bryn Law tells BBC Newsbeat."And that can be a challenge for people because you've got to control your emotions."But you've also got to come up with something that sounds credible - particularly difficult off the back of a defeat."
Bryn has worked in broadcasting for several years and coaches managers on dealing with the media.He says Postecoglou and Amorim's outbursts are examples he plans to use in future courses."So what we talk about is creating a message in your mind that you're then going to deliver to the audience."The audience isn't the reporter, it's whoever is on the other side. "That could be the fan base, the owners, your players and that could be potential future employers as well."In the hands of a skilled operator the post-match interview can also be a chance to steer the narrative.
"Somebody like Jose Mourinho was an absolute master at doing that," says Bryn."Diverting attention away from what might have been a poor result and a bad performance."Bryn feels that is what Amorim has tried to do, along with sending a message to his players."In a sense take the pressure off the players by saying: 'Yeah, not very good at the moment, but obviously we'll work to try and get things better'."Maybe rile the players. For them to say: 'Well, actually no, we're not the worst team ever.'"
The interviewer's perspective
From the point of view of the person asking the questions, BBC commentator and interviewer Robyn Cowen tells Newsbeat she "absolutely hates it".She explains managers are contractually obliged to give those interviews within a certain time period.If they don't, they get fined."So they're kind of pushed into this situation," says Robyn. "They might not have had time to calm down or to collect their thoughts."Those factors are how you end up with comments like Postecoglou's, Robyn says.She adds the Spurs boss is "a tough nut to crack"."That's his right. But as a paid-up member of the commentators and reporters union I'm very much: 'Give us something'."And while interviews might lead to confrontations, Robyn says it's "very important" to do them."Whether they win or lose they explain how it happened."
But Robyn does reflect after a tricky moment."You look at yourself and think could I have phrased things differently? And usually the answer is yes."It is really important how you phrase things because if it doesn't go quite as you would like, then you do get the occasional: Sorry, what did you just say?"And when that happens your stomach drops and it's not a nice feeling."Bryn adds there is another consideration for managers who have English as their second language, like Amorim.He says managers are trying to translate the English into the home language and then craft a response under time pressure."And that can be an issue in terms of the way you phrase things with nuance."Humour can be difficult as well."But sometimes with all the training and plans, managers will end up doing their own thing.Like bringing up an assistant referee and their sandwich.
Bryn says the infamous moment Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder singled out the official over a post-match munch is always a risk when a manager is "a bit of a maverick"."We've had him on one of our courses," says Bryn."But Chris is going to do his own thing and that was a clear example. Would I ever advise that? No, I wouldn't.""Because the problem these days with coming out with something like that is that you become a kind of meme effectively."But Bryn feels generally managers are doing a good job "at messaging"."Far better than most modern politicians. Occasionally, they slip up."But most of the time I think they really hit the mark."
Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.