Kepa & Sarri, Zlatan & Guardiola... Top 5 player & manager feuds in past decade

Ronaldo and Sarri's substitution incident in Juventus' last game has caused massive imagination of relationships between managers and players.

Football has seen plenty of feuds between managers and players, but often it remains avoidable, as the people in question share similar qualities that clash over petty issues. The relationship usually ends with the departure of one of the duo from the club, a needless situation were the pair to put aside the small things.

Here are 5 player-manager feuds that we would like to see reversed.

Maurizio Sarri – Kepa Arrizabalaga

On 24 February 2019, during the 2019 EFL Cup Final against Manchester City, with the match at 0–0 near the end of extra time, Maurizio Sarri called for Arrizabalaga to be substituted off for Willy Caballero for the upcoming penalty shootout; Sarri was concerned over his leg cramping a few minutes prior after making a diving save. 

However, Arrizabalaga refused to be substituted, gesticulating and remaining on the field. This action stirred Sarri's anger to smash waterbottle and then he tried to leave for the dressing room. During the shootout, he saved one penalty as Chelsea lost 4–3.

After the game, both Arrizabalaga and Sarri said that the situation was a misunderstanding, with Sarri incorrectly believing that Arrizabalaga was too injured with cramp to continue.

Later on, Arrizabalaga met with Sarri and apologised to him and to the rest of the club. He was fined a week's worth of pay as a result of his actions, with Sarri leaving the decision of any further discipline up to the club. Arrizabalaga was dropped from the starting lineup for Caballero in Chelsea's next match, a Premier League game against Tottenham.

Carlo Ancelotti – Mesut Ozil

Carlo Ancelotti has been managing teams for the past 20 years. A common theme amongst most of the players he has managed is how excellent at man-management Ancelotti is, with the Italian rarely ever finding himself in a feud with one of his players. Thus, it was particularly surprising when Ancelotti let Mesut Ozil leave Real Madrid for Arsenal.

The German was pivotal for Los Blancos, with Ronaldo bemoaning Ozil's departure, citing him as crucial to his scoring record. Ancelotti was having none of it, slamming Ozil for lacking the fight to stay, saying "Ozil wasn't comfortable. I knew he'd been speaking with another club because he wanted to leave."

"Mesut understood that he had competition, that he wouldn't be able to play every game - and 'I'm off' was his answer. I prefer to have Angel Di Maria for the team's balance. Di Maria is better than Ozil for group dynamics."

It was rather obvious after all those disparaging comments that Ozil would not take too kindly to it, but the German's only response has been a steely silence.

Jose Mourinho – Juan Mata

Juan Mata's career at Chelsea pre-Mourinho could not have gone any better, with the Spaniard being voted the Chelsea fans Player of the Season two years in a row. When Jose made a much-celebrated return to the club, Mata looked primed to be the main man that the Portuguese would build his new-look Chelsea side around.

However, as things turned out Mourinho wanted as little to do with Mata as possible, frequently benching the Spaniard in favour of young Brazilian tyro, Oscar. Mourinho explained his reasoning, a veiled criticism of the lack of defensive work Mata put in, saying. "It is one thing to play with Ramires and Oscar closing down opponents on each side, and Mata as a No10 behind a striker with his clever assists, clever passes, and fantastic actions because he has great talent."

"But it is another thing to adapt to the way we want to play. In this moment, Oscar is my No10 and, if anyone tells me Oscar has not been Chelsea's best player this season, I'd have to disagree. I have to prove to the fans that I am good. Now [Mata] must do the same."

Mata’s frustration came to the boil in his last Chelsea appearance when he was substituted. The Spaniard ignored his manager on the touchline and complained to his teammates on the bench. The reaction ought not to have been much of a surprise, given Mata later revealed "For better or for worse, we had no relationship. There was no dialogue. I was not happy."

Years later, Mata and Mourinho reunited at Man Utd and even though Mourinho has left United already the problem between the two seems not to be solved yet.

Pep Guardiola – Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a famously well-travelled player, having won league titles galore and plying his trade among some of the best managers in the world. The Swede has nothing but praise for most of them, showering praise on managers like Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho, but Pep Guardiola is the biggest exception, with Ibrahimovic being extremely uncomplimentary about the Catalan.

It had started rather well, with Guardiola willing to get rid of Samuel Eto'o and pay €69.5 million in total to bring Zlatan from Inter Milan. However, with Lionel Messi gradually grabbing the spotlight and aiming to play the central striker role, the Swede found himself alienated, reported speaking to his manager just twice in six months.

Guardiola hinted at something bad, saying "If Ibra and I have spoken only twice in six months, there is a reason, but it is better for the club if I don’t talk about it." Ibrahimovic was reported furious at the treatment, throwing training gear and verbally abusing Guardiola in one outburst, only for the Catalan to not engage.

The Swede described Guardiola as a 'spineless coward' in his autobiography and later went on to attack the Catalan personally, saying "Whatever happened, as a coach he was fantastic. As a person, I have no comments about that. That is something else. He is not a man. There's nothing more to say."

Ibrahimovic's departure from Barcelona was inevitable, and the club's success later vindicated Guardiola's decision on the football pitch. 

Louis van Gaal – Angel Di Maria

Months after a man-of-the-match performance in the UEFA Champions League final with Real Madrid and guiding Argentina to the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Manchester United parted with a record £59.7 million to sign Angel di Maria. When he scored 3 goals and assisted 3 goals in his opening 5 games, it looked like Louis van Gaal had a superstar to build his side around.

However, what followed was quite pitiful, as Di Maria had his confidence shaken as he struggled to the Dutchman’s famed ‘philosophy, with Van Gaal admitting as much, saying “Some players cannot adapt to the team philosophy. That you cannot know in advance. You have to see that."

Di Maria suffered the ignominy of being benched with Ashley Young preferred, and then moved to Paris Saint-German in the summer. Di Maria later reflected on the move, saying “I didn’t get on very well with the coach, so I think the decision to join Paris was the best solution.”

Di Maria pinpointed Van Gaal’s philosophy and a change in position as reasons for his leaving, saying “Van Gaal has his philosophy and one of the things that made me want to leave is that. It is difficult to adapt to Van Gaal. I had a couple of rows with him. I started well and after that I got injured. Things didn't go well for me and Van Gaal changed my position."

Given Manchester United’s failings this season, coupled with Di Maria’s stunning form for PSG, it seems rather obvious that were Louis van Gaal to put his philosophy aside, Di Maria could fire Manchester United to the summit of the Premier League next season.