Quote · The Rest Is Football
Kane to the rescue as England squeeze past DR Congo
Where this was said
Managers on the Touchline: Mourinho, Bobby Robson and Touchline Rage
At 14:39 · chapter starts 14:00
When Gary Lineker observes that Tuchel was visibly berating Spence from the technical area throughout the Congo game, it triggers a rich detour into the experience of receiving touchline instruction as a player. Joe Cole reveals that under Mourinho at Chelsea, the players would simply give a thumbs up and say 'yeah, gaffer' regardless of whether they'd understood a word — because Mourinho's screaming was so intense and rapid that comprehension was beside the point. Gary Lineker then delivers the episode's most delightful anecdote: on a terrible, bouncing pitch with a centre-half hammering him from behind, Bobby Robson kept screaming at him to 'hold it up' — and Gary eventually snapped back with 'you f***ing try holding it up!' He immediately regretted it, because Bobby was so kind, and the story carries genuine warmth. Rob Beckett asks what managers are even saying in those moments, and the consensus is that it barely matters — the signal is emotion, not instruction. [1] — Gary Lineker "On a terrible pitch, ball bouncing off his chest with a centre-half smashing him from behind, Gary Lineker finally lost it when Bobby Robso…" 14:00
On a terrible pitch, ball bouncing off his chest with a centre-half smashing him from behind, Gary Lineker finally lost it when Bobby Robson screamed at him to hold it up. 'You f***ing try holding it up!' — and then instant remorse, because Bobby was so lovely.
Jordan Pickford jumped too high with his feet not set — and pace will beat any keeper in that position. Brad Friedel identifies it as a technical error rather than a concentration lapse, but is worried that Pickford has had a nervy moment in three of England's four games, which is out of character with his recent club form.
