Former Premier League manager is told ‘f*** you' by his own player before he shushes him in furious Club World Cup row
The Benfica boss watched his side see off Auckland City 6-0 in the Club World Cup on Friday night.
3
3
Benfica struggled to break down the Kiwi minnows, taking almost an hour to find the opener.
Lage decided to shuffle his pack in the Orlando heat, replacing Orkun Kokcu with ex-Swansea City midfielder Renato Sanches.
But Kokcu was furious at being subbed, refusing to shake Lage's hand as he skulked from the field.
Portuguese outlet A Bola claims Kokcu turned and shouted "f*** you" at his manager before taking his place on the bench.
A furious Lage confronted Kokcu and was seen shushing him by placing a finger on his lips.
And after Sanches netted Benfica's third, the boss headed back to the bench to carry on the feud.
Kerem Akturkoglu was seen holding Kokcu back, preventing the incident from escalating as Lage again shushed his own player.
Lage claimed after the match that Kokcu was guilty of only wanting to "win and score goals".
He said: "We decided that Renato should come on.
"Regardless of the players' form, I make the decisions.
Bayern Munich beat Boca Juniors 2-1 at the Club World Cup
"In the last game, we started with Renato, and Kokcu came on later and helped us.
"That's how it was today, too. I saw the behaviour of a consistently professional athlete. That was a unique experience.
"He has always behaved very well both on and off the field. He has the desire to help the team.
"I make the decisions I have to make, no matter who it is. I've proven that many times.
"I look at the player's current situation and make my decisions calmly."
3
Lage, 49, took charge of Wolves in the Premier League between June 2021 and October 2022.
He won just 19 of 51 games at Molineux, but was hampered by an injury crisis to his strikers.
Julen Lopetegui replaced Lage in the Midlands, with the Portuguese taking charge of Botofago in Brazil before joining Benfica for a second stint last summer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Gonzalo García downs Juventus to send Real Madrid to Club World Cup quarters
Kylian Mbappé at last made his debut at this Club World Cup as the competition enters the knockout phase, coming on to face Juventus two weeks and four games after he was hospitalised with a stomach virus that saw him lose five kilos. But while the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami chanted the Frenchman's name, roaring as he made his way to the halfway line, and stood to hand him an ovation when he entered the fray, the excitement overflowing, it was the kid heading in the other direction for whom Rita Hayworth is family but most of them had not heard of a month ago, who had taken Real Madrid into the quarter-final. For all the focus on the most famous names, for all that this month, this experimental event, needs them, every tournament has its revelation: this World Cup has a 21-year-old madrileño. 'I knew this competition was the opportunity of my life,' Gonzalo García said after he again showed that it is one he is determined, and equipped, to take hold of. The Real Madrid academy striker, who had never started a game before arriving in the United States, scored his third goal here with a superb thumping header from a delicious Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery, doing what no one else could over 90 minutes here: beating the Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio. A family of rugby players, bullfighters, and perhaps the most famous actor there ever was – García's grandfather was Heyworth's cousin – has a footballer too, and he looks like being some player. Good enough, says the Spain Under-17s coach, Hernán Pérez, to be Madrid's striker for a decade to come. With the permission of Mbappé, of course. Xabi Alonso likes him, that's for sure, even if he admitted that he never expected three goals from him, and García has been superb stateside. On a wet but mercifully lightning-free afternoon in Miami where a Madrid team that are progressing well kept hitting a wall, he was decisive once more, setting up a meeting with Borussia Dortmund – hi Jude, hi Jobe – or Monterrey – hi, Sergio Ramos – in the next round. In the end, Madrid deserved it, far the better side, Alonso praising his team's ability to understand 'when to speed up, when to slow down, how to control the game'. That said, it did take a while to gain control and the early moments of illumination came mostly from another kid, Juventus's Kenan Yildiz, who combined often with Andrea Cambiaso and Randal Kolo Muani. The 20-year-old – left footed, small, socks half down, backside low – has been described by Kolo Muani as 'magic' and there were moments he left his mark here. He played a key part in what might have been the opener after six minutes, combining with Kolo Muani on a move that began way back by the Juventus penalty area and reached Madrid's. There, alone before Thibaut Courtois, Kolo Muani scooped over him but fractionally over the bar too. Next a neat turn saw Yildiz's shot deflected wide, there was the time he slipped the ball between Alexander-Arnold's legs, and smart footwork later took him away from the former Liverpool defender and Antonio Rüdiger for Cambiaso to cross. From another Cambiaso delivery, Francisco Conceição headed Juve's second chance at Courtois. Madrid, playing with three central defenders, had control if not a huge amount of incision in those early phases. As the half went on though, openings appeared and increasingly often. In the middle of it all, Fede Valverde, as ever, was everywhere firing off shots. By the time he was withdrawn, exhausted, to applause in the 89th minute, the Uruguayan had racked up seven. 'He makes life easier,' Alonso said. From one of them in the first half, Di Gregorio dived full length to save and the keeper would have a busy afternoon, sticking out a leg when Valverde got deep into the area and pulled back soon after. Next Arda Guler, growing into this in the playmaker role that looks increasingly like becoming his permanent place, lifted over his marker and almost got the ball across. Just before the break, Alexander-Arnold did, but his delivery raced right though the six-yard box. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion The second half began with Jude Bellingham setting up Valverde's volley, which skidded and spun just wide. And although Antonio Rüdiger and Courtois kicked each other as they swiped at a clearance, Alonso's side got on top, soon dominating entirely. Trent fired over, Manuel Locatelli blocked Vinícius Júnior, and Bellingham and Dean Huijsen drew saves from Di Gregorio. Then the goal came, Alexander-Arnold's lovely soft-shoed cross meeting García's leap. Turning his neck, he thudded past Di Gregorio who could not fling up his arms fast enough. Madrid kept coming but the Italian pushed away Valverde's overhead kick and stuck out a leg to stop Guler's shot after Vinícius and Mbappé had opened up Juventus. When he reached Aurélien Tchouaméni's late low drive, it took him into double figures but there was no reward. The one time he was beaten was enough, Madrid's revelation there again.
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Wednesday's briefing: Doubts for Man City while promoted sides strengthen
Meanwhile, attention will turn to the Euro 2025 as it kicks off in Switzerland, although neither England nor Wales will be in action before Saturday. Pep Guardiola claimed it was 'too early to say' if Manchester City can be back in title contention next season after he watched them crash out of the Club World Cup with a shock defeat to Al-Hilal in the last 16. City dominated in the group stages but it all fell apart with some familiar defensive failings in the 4-3 extra-time defeat that sent them home. 'I don't know,' said City manager Guardiola afterwards when asked if his team had convinced him they could challenge next term. 'It's too early to say but I saw many, many good things that I didn't see in the past, especially from where we were.' Welcome to Sunderland AFC, Habib Diarra! ❤️🇸🇳 — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) July 1, 2025 Promoted sides Sunderland and Leeds have been busy in the transfer market as they try to construct squads capable of surviving in the Premier League. Sunderland have paid a club record fee, reportedly £30million, to bring in 21-year-old Senegal midfielder Habib Diarra – who scored against England last month – from Strasbourg. Leeds, meanwhile, have made their second signing from Wolfsburg in the space of a fortnight, with defender Sebastiaan Bornauw following Lukas Nmecha in making the switch. Bornauw is Leeds' third signing of the summer, with Jaka Bijol the other new face. Elsewhere, Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from London rivals Chelsea, seven years after the Blues paid £71m to bring him in from Athletic Bilbao. On the eve of Euro 2025, Wales vice-captain Ceri Holland has revealed how she thought her tournament hopes had ended when she was carried off on a stretcher during their Nations League clash against Denmark in April. The Liverpool winger, 27, was in tears after suffering the injury that saw her leave the stadium in a protective boot but has recovered in time to be part of the squad that has travelled to Switzerland. 'I was very, very lucky. I probably felt the worst,' said Holland. 'With the Euros around the corner that's what was on everyone's minds. Those next 24 hours after the injury were tough, mentally they were very tough.' Holland has scored seven goals in 43 appearances from her wide berth and her Wales development at international level has been replicated on the club stage in the Women's Super League. 💭 Still thinking about that @TrentAA assist… 💭 — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) July 1, 2025 Trent Alexander-Arnold registered his first assist for Real Madrid as he set up Gonzalo Garcia's decisive goal in their 1-0 Club World Cup win over Juventus. Garcia headed home his third goal of the tournament after 54 minutes to send Madrid into the quarter-finals. Kylian Mbappe was kept in reserve for Real, despite the France forward having recovered from illness to take his place in the matchday squad for the first time at the Club World Cup, but came off the bench in the final 15 minutes. Euro 2025 gets under way in Switzerland with the opening Group A fixtures. First up Iceland play Finland before the hosts take on Norway in the second game. National League side Morecambe appear set to enter administration on Wednesday after talks to end an impasse over a takeover deal failed to find a resolution.
South Wales Guardian
3 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
It's too early to say – Pep Guardiola hoping Man City can challenge next season
City's hopes of using the Club World Cup to kickstart a revival after an underwhelming 2024-25 campaign ended prematurely as they crashed out to Saudi side Al-Hilal in Orlando on Monday night. With new signings catching the eye in an impressive group phase that culminated with a 5-2 thrashing of Juventus, City appeared to have turned a corner. But old defensive failings returned as Al-Hilal produced a stunning upset at the Camping World Stadium, edging a pulsating last-16 encounter 4-3 after extra time. 'I don't know,' said City manager Guardiola afterwards when asked if his team had convinced him they could challenge next term. 'It's too early to say but I saw many, many good things that I didn't see in the past, especially from where we were. 'The relation between the players and our captains helps a lot, and the backroom staff. 'It's sad because I felt that we were happy here. The training sessions had been really, really good – all of them. 'But the level in these competitions, Club World Cup, (is high).' City looked on course for the quarter-finals after taking an early lead through Bernardo Silva but they paid the price for missing a series of chances to increase their advantage. Marcos Leonardo and Malcom turned the game around for Al-Hilal early in the second half. Erling Haaland forced extra time but City required a Phil Foden volley to level again after Kalidou Koulibaly headed Al-Hilal back in front. City could not regain the initiative and Leonardo settled an eventful contest – securing a statement victory for Saudi football in the process – after 112 minutes. Question marks remain over the size of City's squad ahead of the new season with Guardiola having previously suggested some players could leave. Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish, who were not involved in the United States, have been the subject of the most speculation. Guardiola said: 'We will see with the club, we will talk to the players as well. The players are really good but the season will be so long, so many things can happen. That is the reality, that is the truth.' Rodri, who was being eased back into action after missing most of the 2024-25 campaign, came off the bench against Al-Hilal only to be substituted in extra time. John Stones, after another injury-hit campaign, did not make an appearance in the tournament. Guardiola said: 'We have to see how Rodri is. He was good but later complained about his situation. 'We have to wait for players to come back. I'm so sorry for John, not to give him minutes, but the game was so demanding. 'I did not want (a setback) after being four or five months out.'
