Premier League managers are judged by how their teams perform on the pitch, but the language they use off it can also play into how they are perceived by supporters, players and the media.
From Ange Postecoglou’s many uses of “mate” to the importance Sean Dyche places on “hard yards”, managers use language to create a persona for them and their squad, or to forge togetherness.
We recently looked at Erik ten Hag’s reference to a “game model” at Manchester United, so as well as adding another Ten Hagism, our writers looked at the words and phrases used by Premier League managers and why they employ them.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal: ‘Versatility’, ‘adaptability’ and ‘unpredictability’
All are similar and speak to how Arteta has built Arsenal in his image. They tend to come up when he talks about new signings, and he first spoke of a desire for more “unpredictability” in January 2020 when he welcomed Pablo Mari as his first left-footed centre-back to make Arsenal’s build-up more… unpredictable.
“Versatility” cropped up more between 2022 and 2023 with the introduction of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz. These players all came with the ability to play in multiple positions, which has underpinned the different ways Arteta’s Arsenal can set up.
“Adaptability” is taking on its own evolution. Rather than focusing on players’ attributes, Arteta has started speaking about how adaptable Arsenal can be as a collective to win in different contexts. This language has filtered through to players, like Bukayo Saka, with the Spaniard’s emphasis on being versatile, adaptable and unpredictable clear in many aspects of their play.
Art de Roché
Arteta’s use of language has evolved with his Arsenal side (GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Unai Emery, Aston Villa: ‘Demanding’
Invariably, most questions about his Villa team are met with Emery preaching the need for his players to be “demanding”.
This can mean a range of things when coming from Emery, such as Villa’s tactical structure being correct or the “demanding” challenges of the opposition.
Even the first description Ollie Watkins gave of Emery earlier this month was the fact he was very “demanding”.
It is a word that means so many things, yet sums up the Villa’s manager’s impact rather nicely.
Jacob Tanswell
Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth: ‘We had our chances…’
He says it because they usually do. According to Opta’s expected goals (xG) tallies, Bournemouth have been expected to score at least once in 35 of their 44 Premier League games under Iraola, having had at least one shot on target in every match.
The Spaniard’s high-risk, high-reward style can often leave him reflecting on turning points in his post-match interviews, always ensuring to underline periods of the game in which his team were proactive and pressed high. After defeats, even to the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, he will refer back to moments his team had in front of goal before the tide changed, with words such as “intensity” and “momentum” commonly heard.
Regardless of the result, Iraola’s side make things happen, and his analysis often points to a man who relishes the opportunity to test himself against the best.
Thom Harris
Thomas Frank, Brentford: ‘Confident but humble’
Since Matthew Benham became Brentford’s majority owner in June 2012, they have risen from the third tier of English football to the Premier League, upgraded their training ground and built a shiny new stadium.
Brentford have spent over £100million in the last couple of transfer windows, which would have seemed like a mad fantasy a decade ago, and they have ambitions of qualifying for Europe.
It has been an incredible period of change. Thomas Frank’s catchphrase, which he repeatedly says to the media and his squad, is “confident but humble”. It is about his players and staff being brave enough to hold their own in the top flight and record famous victories over Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United, but not forget their roots. It is also why the chant, “We are just a bus stop in Hounslow” has become a badge of honour.
Jay Harris
Frank with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton: ‘Momentum’
In his first seven matches in the Premier League, one of the things Hurzeler has been struck by is the need to gain impetus and exploit it when you have it, both in matches and in this division itself.
He has been on the wrong end and the right end of momentum shifts in the last two games. His team conceded four goals in 20 minutes in the first half of the 4-2 defeat at Chelsea, then scored three goals in 18 minutes in the second half against Tottenham to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 victory.
Speaking after the Tottenham comeback, Hurzeler made quite clear the importance he places on it.
“The league is so competitive,” he said. “You have to work hard for the momentum. When you have momentum, you have to use this momentum.”
Andy Naylor
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea: ‘Identity’
Some cheeky critics of Chelsea’s transfer policy may wonder whether “identify” would be a more appropriate word for Maresca to use given how many players he had to get to know on starting work in July.
But like any coach after taking over a new team, Maresca wants to get the squad playing his way and have a consistent tactical game plan. This is where the use of “identity” comes in.
Maresca first uttered the phrase at the start of pre-season and barely a press conference goes by without the Italian repeating the message.
He was at it again after making 11 changes for the 4-2 win over Gent in the UEFA Conference League, saying: “The important thing is, changing players, you can (still) see the purpose and identity of the team.”
He is not the first manager to use the expression and it makes sense. No matter who is selected, Maresca wants people to see a ‘Maresca team’.
Simon Johnson
Maresca has made an impressive start to life as Chelsea head coach (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Positive guy Oliver Glasner is all about emotional stability.
NIPSILD is a German acronym that means “think not in problems, but in solutions”. He picked it up from a former coach and it helps him respond to issues with alacrity rather than despondency.
Before facing Manchester United, Glasner said of new signing Daichi Kamada: “We knew if we needed him as a No 6, then he helps the team there. If we need him as the No 10, then he helps there.
“We didn’t expect Adam Wharton to struggle with his groin but we have to find solutions. For me it was about NIPSILD… we have to solve these topics and Daichi helps us to be more flexible.”
Another theme of his mindset is staying in the present, not dwelling on the past — “the past has gone” — or worrying unduly about the future.
Max Mathews
Sean Dyche, Everton: ‘Hard yards’
This one should be fairly self-explanatory and exactly the kind of phrase you would expect from Dyche. “Hard yards” is his way of reinforcing to his players the value of a strong work ethic and doing the basics.
Another of his maxims, following on similar lines, is “minimum requirement is maximum effort”. You get the drift.
Other notable Dycheisms include “on the grass”, confirmation a player has returned to light training, and changing the “noise” or “story” around the club.
As has been obvious, there has been plenty of noise to deal with throughout Dyche’s tenure at Goodison Park.
Patrick Boyland
Marco Silva, Fulham: ‘Idea’, ‘Balance’
Now into four seasons at Fulham, The Athletic is well-versed in Marco Silva-isms.
When it comes to style of play, the first and most important phrase in the log book is learning the team’s “idea”. New signings and personnel need time to adapt to this, the all-encompassing phrase that means more than just philosophy; it also refers to both club culture and the team’s ambition. Tactically, he always wants his side to show “balance”, a term designed to capture the desire for clean sheets as well as goalscoring.
The other notable Silvaisms occur pre- and post-match. Before games, opponents are invariably labelled “tough”, while afterwards, Silva will always talk through the 90 minutes first, and always begins by declaring which team “deserved to win” (especially if that’s Fulham).
Oh, and on referees, incorrect decisions are labelled either “strange” or “difficult to understand” — the latter if they are particularly poor.
Peter Rutzler
Kieran McKenna, Ipswich Town: ‘The group’
Ipswich’s success under McKenna can be attributed to being a well-coached side and a spirited, unified “group”. The entire group beyond the starting XI were crucial to Ipswich winning back-to-back promotions, from the volume of late goals from substitutes, to veteran forward Sone Aluko working with the club’s analysts when not in the matchday squad.
During the 2023-24 campaign, McKenna frequently described his side as “the same group”, a reference to the squad being largely unchanged from the one that had achieved promotion from League One the season before as they competed with former Premier League sides Southampton, Leicester City and Leeds United.
The group has had a rebrand this season. It’s now “a new group”, “a young group” and “a group that’s coming together” after bringing in 10 summer signings and attempting to adapt to the Premier League.
Ali Rampling
McKenna and his developing group (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Steve Cooper, Leicester City: ‘The plan’
His critics among the Leicester fans might claim Cooper doesn’t possess a plan, but he certainly references “the plan” on a regular basis.
At both Crystal Palace and at Arsenal, he denied his side’s deep defending when under pressure wasn’t “part of the plan”, and in press conferences, he has spoken about “the plan” of how he wants to attack, with a high full-back and a box of four midfielders with two No 10s.
There is a plan, although it is not as structured in the same strict way as under Maresca. There is more freedom granted to individuals to make decisions in the final third.
That, and a more aggressive approach to defending with more athletic individuals selected, seems to be “the plan” Cooper is referring to.
Rob Tanner
Arne Slot, Liverpool: ‘Standards’
Slot has rarely flinched since taking over at Liverpool and his message has been consistent from the start. Setting the right “standards” is what he expects from his players because that’s the minimum requirement when representing Liverpool.
It’s why when he’s been asked about the flying start to the season and the run of nine victories from 10 games, he’s responded with answers that suggest his players should simply be taking all of this in their stride.
It is the same when individuals have been heavily praised, for example, Ryan Gravenberch. When asked about his impressive start, Slot said: “Now it’s up to him to keep the standards as they are at this moment.”
It’s his go-to reply and until Liverpool have completed the next round of tough fixtures, expect to hear similar thoughts in the days ahead.
Gregg Evans
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City: ‘So, so…’
“Process” would probably be the tactical term Guardiola uses most often. Not in the sense of a period of time but the various things that go into City’s possession game.
But that’s not what he’s known for, at all. If there was a stereotypical Guardiola phrase it would be, “I’m so, so happy guys, so happy”.
It’s a bit of a pastiche of his first-season interviews when he was viewed as a crazy foreigner whose style wouldn’t work over here and said strange things in interviews trying to defend himself. And that’s stuck!
Sam Lee
(OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Erik ten Hag, Manchester United: ‘Clear’
Ten Hag’s communication style has raised eyebrows throughout his managerial career. Upon first joining Ajax, media in the Netherlands made jokes about his accent. His years in England have seen people question his straight-to-the-point-yet-sparse-in-detail way of answering questions.
Ask him for comment on potential signings and he will reply: “When we have news, we will tell you.” Ten Hag has “a plan” that involves “rules” and “principles”.
We have already touched on what he means by “game model”, but another of his favourites is the word “clear”. This stems from the Dutch phrase “duidelijk”, which can mean “obviously” and might be used in the same way an English manager might end a sentence with, “Know what I mean?”.
This is also why he often makes a “ehn?”-like grunt at the end of so many sentences. He wants to make sure he’s being understood.
Carl Anka
Love. That’s nice, isn’t it? What a wonderfully positive word for Howe to use so often. The only thing is, he uses it in the manner of a dad telling the kids he really loves the dog, but there’s been an accident on the driveway.
“We love him,” he said to the Chronicle about Miguel Almiron in the summer, while the club totted up his PSR (Profit and Sustainability rules) value. “He was a player that we loved,” he told Radio Newcastle after Elliot Anderson was ushered out the door. “It’s difficult for me to give love to the players all the time. Sometimes you have to give them the opposite,” he said after giving Anthony Gordon whatever the opposite of love is.
And in summer, he said, “I absolutely love and am very proud and honoured to be Newcastle United manager.” Before adding: “And as long as I remain happy and free to do my job in the way that I have been and feel supported then that will continue.”
To which CEO Darren Eales responded, “We love him.” Which is worrying.
Andrew Hankinson
Nuno Espirito Santo, Nottingham Forest: ‘It’s about the team’
Ask Nuno about a player who is performing well or exceeding expectations and he will normally happily furnish you with a few words of praise.
Ask him about upcoming opposition and he will talk about them being a “very good team, with very good players”, which is another of his oft-repeated phrases.
But, whatever the subject of the question or the topic, Nuno will often come back to one thing: how nothing is more important than Forest as a team or group.
So much of the work Nuno and his staff do on the training ground is intended to promote the sense of togetherness and unity within the dressing room and the idea that they are stronger together, rather than as individuals.
He does not generally give too much away in his press conferences, but the Forest head coach rarely misses an opportunity to underline how “it’s about the team”.
Paul Taylor
Nuno took over as Forest boss in December 2023 (IAN HODGSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Russell Martin, Southampton: ‘Taking the temperature’
While the heat increases on Martin the longer Southampton wait for a first Premier League win of the season, references to his team taking or lowering “the temperature” are among his favourites.
It has a similar meaning to another popular Martin principle: “dominating the ball”. When he talks about taking or lowering “the temperature” of a game, Martin means getting his team to pass the opposition dizzy and halt their momentum. This is often in the context of his team playing away from home to nullify the crowd.
Control and domination are key principles for a Martin team in possession and that is reflected in his language when speaking to the media. Will taking the temperature of Southampton’s perilous situation cause Martin to change tactics? Unlikely.
Nancy Froston
Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur: ‘Mate’
Depending upon what mood Postecoglou is in, this word can have thousands of different meanings. Growing up in Melbourne as the son of Greek immigrants, “mate” started out like any other word in Postecoglou’s vocabulary but it quickly became a tool he bent to his will.
It is sometimes used in the traditional sense — “good morning, mate” — but Postecoglou has a lot more fun with it too.
For example, it can be used as a joke to defuse a tense press conference — “I’m not a violin player, mate” — or to passive-aggressively shut down a question: “Not interested, mate.” If he draws out the first syllable “maaaate” then he is usually having a slightly light-hearted interaction with a reporter.
After Tottenham’s 4-1 defeat to Chelsea last November, where they stuck with a high line despite being reduced to nine men, it became a rallying cry — “It’s who we are, mate. Even with five men, mate, we will have a crack.”
Who knew it could hold such power?
Jay Harris
For Spurs boss Postecoglou, ‘mate’ has a number of meanings (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
Julen Lopetegui, West Ham United: ‘Consistency’ and ‘It’s about the team’
West Ham United head coach Julen Lopetegui often talks about wanting to see his side show “consistency”, but it is something they have lacked this season.
They have yielded eight points from their first seven games and have suffered heavy defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool.
But when his side do show promising performances, it is uncommon for him to single out individuals. As with many manager, the team ethic is key.
Regardless of whether it is Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen or Michail Antonio, Lopetegui would rather reference the team and emphasise why the togetherness will help West Ham in the long run.
Roshane Thomas
Gary O’Neil, Wolves: ‘How it looks’
O’Neil loves talking tactics and spends much of his time watching upcoming opponents and preparing his players for how those opponents will approach the game.
“What it looks like”, or variations of the phrase, is what O’Neil says regularly when describing how closely the game resembled the tactical plan outlined to his players in the build-up.
There is often a look of satisfaction in his eyes when he describes a game looking on the pitch like it did on the tactics board or the video room.
But at times, especially this season, he has been left frustrated by his team’s inability to adapt when a game does not “look” like they expect.
So far this term, “how it looks” is pretty daunting.
Steve Madeley
(Photos: Getty Images; graphic: Kelsea Petersen)
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