AS Roma beat Real Madrid 2-1 in Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 first leg despite some of their key players not talking to each other.
Francesco Totti played in Mancini for the second-half winner yet the pair haven’t seen eye-to-eye for two years because of a personal feud. Their embrace after the goal suggested otherwise, but in reality they are sworn enemies.
The Eternal city seems to prevent everlasting friendships, even if the ill-feeling doesn’t stop Roma, second in Serie A, from gaining results.
Christian Panucci came to blows with team mate Alberto Aquilani in training on Sunday but both played their part in Tuesday’s famous win, which gives Roma a decent chance of making the quarter-finals for the second year in a row.
Of course, Roma won’t want to be reminded that last season they were 2-1 up against Manchester United in the last eight only to be hammered 7-1 in the return leg at Old Trafford.
On the other hand, maybe Roma boss Luciano Spalletti should convene a meeting to discuss the 7-1 defeat and allow his players to let rip at each other. It seems to make them play better.
I remember Liverpool’s Bruce Grobbelaar and Steve McManaman once scrapping in the penalty area as well as Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer fighting at Newcastle. Santiago Canizares and Miroslav Djukic at Valencia were not on speaking terms either.
Let us know of any other warring team mates and whether it helped.
Mark Meadows, Milan
PHOTO: AS Roma’s Mancini celebrates after scoring against Real Madrid during their Champions League first knockout round first leg, Feb. 19 REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito
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12 comments so far
I remember David Batty and Colin Hendry having a scrap when they were both playing for Blackburn. It is one of the most bizzare things a fan can witness when two team mates begin fighting. Quite entertaining though!
- Posted by NeilI thought Batty battered Graeme Le Saux. Maybe there was another occasion! Of course these, Grobbelaar and Bowyer didnt really help the teams play better.
- Posted by Mark MeadowsWith Roma though they’ve bizarrely bonded
You are absolutely right! It was Le Saux and Batty.
- Posted by Neil[...] Mancini and Totti are sworn enemies in reality. Is it true? [...]
- Posted by Roma vs Real Madrid Highlights | Goalcentre.com - Soccer Highlights and VideosI think they’ve have patched things up a little since it was really bad but there’s no love lost
http://italy.theoffside.com/serie-a/manc ini-leaving-rome.html
Guardian from last year:
- Posted by Kevin Fylan“Totti and Mancini’s partnership has proved lethal for several teams, but it seems you don’t have to be good friends to combine well on the pitch. The frosty relationship between the two has been apparent since they refused to celebrate with each other during the 2-1 Coppa Italia victory over Parma earlier this season.”
Wow, I didn’t know these two had a grudge.
I’m sure there’s been loads of behind the scenes stuff that we don’t even know about. I remember when John Hartson kicked Eyal Berkovic in the head during training when the two were at West Ham, but I don’t think that affected the way they played on the pitch either. I think Hartson might have left at the end of the season, a little like how Bellamy left Liverpool after whacking John Arne Riise with a golf club!
I don’t think it will be too uncommon for players not to see eye to eye, and in a squad of 20+ players there is a good chance it is going to happen. I think it is good that they can at least be a bit more mature about it and actually play together.
- Posted by Betfair HammerI remember Robbie Fowler cut up Neil Ruddocks best pair of shoes on the flight back from a European away leg. Apparently Ruddock chinned Fowler as they left the plane. Later on Fowler chased Ruddock around the airport terminal seeking bloody revenge and Ruddock was genuinely afraid. That simmered for a while and I’ve no idea if they patched it up but I doubt they’re sole mates.
- Posted by JimOnly this season in Spain, Deportivo’s Uruguayan keeper Gustavo Munua punched team mate Dudu Aouate in the face during a dressing room squabble (Aouate had grumbled about being dropped in a news conference).
Munua was given a six-month prison sentence by the local court prosecutor who intervened after hearing of the incident. Luckily for Munua he didn´t have to serve the sentence as it was his first offence. Although they are still in the relegation zone, Depor have picked up a little in recent games while their coach Lotina has kept reserve teamer Fabri between the posts in preference to the two big-name keepers.
- Posted by Simon BaskettNow Inter’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Materazzi are at it. Ibra was annoyed with MM for getting sent off in the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool (although it was a harsh red for two yellows.)
- Posted by Mark Meadows“How did it go? You’ll have to ask Materazzi that,” Ibra said after Tuesday’s game.
Reports also say the pair were at a function on Wednesday and ignored each other
Ibrahimovic and Materazzi,why does that not surprise me?. Two ego’s that size,in the same team ,are bound to clash.
- Posted by Cy NicalI don’t think the dust ever settles after such spates.Another famous on the pitch bust up was Keiran Dyer and Lee Bowyer at Newcastle.
I don’t know if any of you remember the bulgariana national team at USA 94,well as start in Bulgaria is important where you coming from/Levski or CSKA/ so the national team has always been divided,but with the time goes by,the ego of players like Stoichkov/Barcelona/,Penev/Valencia&Atle tiko/,Balakov/Stutgard/,Ivanov/Rapid Vienna/ got so big they never spoke to each other,there were scandal who should be the skipper,also there were some players in the team,who owned the place only to this that they used to sing very well folklor songs and Stoichkov and Lubo Penev were known to have soft spot for this…But that brought us/Bulgarians/ some of the best moments in our lives…So who cares that they don’t speak to each other if they could perform on teh pitch for the good o the team,fans and country…
- Posted by DarinRemember that Bulgarian team very well.All those personal clashes in that team must have been left off the pitch as they were excellent especially Stoichkov.
- Posted by Cy NicalAnother famous clash of personalities from that World Cup both played for the cup winners Brazil. Romario and Edmundo, it was rumoured ,hated each other that much ,they could not stand even being on the same pitch together.