A few years ago, Pep Guardiola blamed the ball for Manchester City's failure to score against Wolves in the EFL Cup. We take a look at some of the strangest excuses managers and players have given for their failures on the pitch...
10. Scottish genetics
After their recent failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Scotland boss Gordon Strachan claimed that genetically, the Scots are “behind” the other countries, as they were one of the smallest teams in qualifying. He seemed to ignore the fact that Spain, who are the only team smaller than Scotland, won three successive tournaments in 2008, 2010 and 2012. Maybe the Scots should pick on someone their own size!
9. Loud frogs
During the 2006 World Cup, Ukraine felt the full force of a fearsome Spain attack during a 4-0 group stage loss. In defence of his poor display, Ukraine centre-back Vladislav Vashchuk claimed that loud frogs croaking outside the team hotel had meant he was unable to sleep the previous night.
8. Bouncy balls
During his days as Newcastle boss, Kenny Dalglish claimed that the ball was 'too bouncy' for his side to beat non-league Stevenage in the FA Cup back in 1998. Stevenage were eventually beaten 2-1 in the replay at St James' Park where they presumably played with much less bouncy balls.
7. Unacceptably light balls
Wolves were the first team to shut out Manchester City the 201728 season as they kept a clean sheet before eventually losing on penalties in the EFL Cup fourth round. Rather than praising Wolves’ defensive display, Pep Guardiola said City’s failure to score was because the ball was ‘unacceptable’ and far ‘too light’.
6. Grey away kits
Back in April 1996, Manchester United found themselves 3-0 down to Southampton at half-time, and Sir Alex Ferguson blamed their performance on their grey away kit. He demanded that the players changed and claimed that they found it “difficult to pick eachother out.” After the quick outfit change, United did improve, but lost the game 3-1 after a Ryan Giggs consolation goal.
5. Sideline colour clash
Back when he was West Ham's manager, Bilic claimed that the players had found it difficult to judge distances on the playing field, because the colour which surrounded the pitch is too similar. He claimed his players couldn't see “where is the end of the pitch” and that could “psychologically affect” their performance.
4. Not enough ball boys
Jose Mourinho is somewhat of an expert at deflecting attention away from his team’s bad performances, with excuses in the past varying from bright floodlights or a refereeing conspiracy. In 2011, when Lionel Messi scored a late goal to defeat Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, Mourinho embarked on a rant about how “there were no ballboys in the second half.”
3. Taking away a Michael Jackson statue
When Shahid Khan bought Fulham, one of the first decisions he made was to remove the Michael Jackson which former owner Mohamed Al-Fayed had installed outside Craven Cottage. Khan’s first season at the Cottagers didn’t go to plan as Fulham suffered relegation to the Championship, and Al-Fayed claimed it was because of the removal of the infamous statue of the King of Pop!
2. Too many video games
After making a trio of errors for Liverpool against Newcaslte in 1997, David James’ place in the England squad was under serious threat. James claimed his addiction to video games, specifically Tekken II and Tomb Raider, was the reason for his shocking performance, saying he spent too much time on the PlayStation. Unfortunately for the goalkeeper, that excuse made no difference and he didn’t make the England squad for France 1998. Maybe stick to FIFA next time!
1. Rough socks
After Italy’s goalless draw with Denmark at the start of Euro 2004, Panucci said his socks were to blame. “The thread that these socks were made with is too rough.” However, his team-mate Gennaro Gattuso rubbished those claims saying “Kenyans run hundreds of kilometres with bare feet”. A good workman never blames his tools, Christian...
10. Scottish genetics
After their recent failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Scotland boss Gordon Strachan claimed that genetically, the Scots are “behind” the other countries, as they were one of the smallest teams in qualifying. He seemed to ignore the fact that Spain, who are the only team smaller than Scotland, won three successive tournaments in 2008, 2010 and 2012. Maybe the Scots should pick on someone their own size!
9. Loud frogs
During the 2006 World Cup, Ukraine felt the full force of a fearsome Spain attack during a 4-0 group stage loss. In defence of his poor display, Ukraine centre-back Vladislav Vashchuk claimed that loud frogs croaking outside the team hotel had meant he was unable to sleep the previous night.
8. Bouncy balls
During his days as Newcastle boss, Kenny Dalglish claimed that the ball was 'too bouncy' for his side to beat non-league Stevenage in the FA Cup back in 1998. Stevenage were eventually beaten 2-1 in the replay at St James' Park where they presumably played with much less bouncy balls.
7. Unacceptably light balls
Wolves were the first team to shut out Manchester City this season as they kept a clean sheet before eventually losing on penalties in the EFL Cup fourth round. Rather than praising Wolves’ defensive display, Pep Guardiola said City’s failure to score was because the ball was ‘unacceptable’ and far ‘too light’.
6. Grey away kits
Back in April 1996, Manchester United found themselves 3-0 down to Southampton at half-time, and Sir Alex Ferguson blamed their performance on their grey away kit. He demanded that the players changed and claimed that they found it “difficult to pick eachother out.” After the quick outfit change, United did improve, but lost the game 3-1 after a Ryan Giggs consolation goal.
5. Sideline colour clash
West Ham’s home form has struggled since making the move to the London Stadium, and Slaven Bilic thinks he knows why. Bilic claims that the players have found it difficult to judge distances on the playing field, because the colour which surrounds the pitch is too similar. He claimed his players can’t see “where is the end of the pitch” and that can “psychologically affect” their performance.
4. Not enough ball boys
Jose Mourinho is somewhat of an expert at deflecting attention away from his team’s bad performances, with excuses in the past varying from bright floodlights or a refereeing conspiracy. In 2011, when Lionel Messi scored a late goal to defeat Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup, Mourinho embarked on a rant about how “there were no ballboys in the second half.”
3. Taking away a Michael Jackson statue
When Shahid Khan bought Fulham, one of the first decisions he made was to remove the Michael Jackson which former owner Mohamed Al-Fayed had installed outside Craven Cottage. Khan’s first season at the Cottagers didn’t go to plan as Fulham suffered relegation to the Championship, and Al-Fayed claimed it was because of the removal of the infamous statue of the King of Pop!
2. Too many video games
After making a trio of errors for Liverpool against Newcaslte in 1997, David James’ place in the England squad was under serious threat. James claimed his addiction to video games, specifically Tekken II and Tomb Raider, was the reason for his shocking performance, saying he spent too much time on the PlayStation. Unfortunately for the goalkeeper, that excuse made no difference and he didn’t make the England squad for France 1998. Maybe stick to FIFA next time!
1. Rough socks
After Italy’s goalless draw with Denmark at the start of Euro 2004, Panucci said his socks were to blame. “The thread that these socks were made with is too rough.” However, his team-mate Gennaro Gattuso rubbished those claims saying “Kenyans run hundreds of kilometres with bare feet”. A good workman never blames his tools, Christian...