David Moyes has claimed the media has a part to play in how modern managers behave on the touchline, while stating he would rather be calm like Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were. According to Moyes, former Manchester United boss Ferguson and ex-Arsenal manager Wenger were reserved characters who mostly spent games sat down in their dugout. But following the introduction of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Conte at Spurs, Moyes believes that their animated behaviour during games is being spurred on by the media who ‘wanted something different.’
David Moyes said: “When I was at the start of my managerial career, I looked at Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. The two of them had a great aura about them – didn’t leave their seats very often and when they did, it was to put over a clear message. It was a body language which said: ‘I trust you players to do it and you players get on with it and I’ll bring myself into it when I need to’. But the media then wanted something different. You had Jurgen Klopp, some Jose Mourinho running down the touchline and sliding, Antonio Conte. The media said there was a new type of manager they wanted to see – the emotion, the action, the manager getting angry or celebrating or kicking bottles. The media wanted that. So there was a change in what style you had to have as a manager. I’m not blaming Jurgen Klopp for anybody’s behaviour – far from it. I look back at myself as a young manager and probably my behaviour wasn’t good enough when I think about it. But I do think managers have a responsibility. We can show emotion. We’ve got to show emotion. Supporters want to see a reaction but that doesn’t mean we have to all do it the same. If you’re asking me how I’d like to be, I’d like to be calm like Sir Alex or Arsene. Maybe their teams were that good they could probably sit back and enjoy it in their armchairs! One way or the other, as managers, we want to coach and help and show our passion, but there is a level. I would be the wrong one to ask because my passion is often over spilled in abusing fourth officials or referees, which I’m not proud of. It’s part of the job that you’re trying to win the game, you’re desperate, we need to make sure everybody is keeping in tow.”
