Sometimes it’s best when footballers let their feet do the talking. Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and now Marc Cucurella are among the high-profile stars who have had to take back their words.
By and large, footballers are pretty media savvy, which often results in boring post-match interviews that sound like they’ve been read from a script. But sometimes they let slip and say things they later regret.
We’ve identified five situations where footballers probably wish they had kept their mouths shut.
Marc Cucurella
We would have said that fate had decreed that Chelsea would face Manchester City after Cucurella drunkenly blathered on about Paella and Estrella and said “Haaland is shaking because Cucurella is coming”, but by that point the date had already been set. Brave boy.
We have the feeling that a visibly drunk Cucurella is not quite reflected on the implications of the Premier League’s just-released fixture list for the 2024–25 season as he took to the microphone during the Euro 2024 celebrations in Spain.
As expected, Haaland scored City’s first goal in a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge, leaving Cucurella to roll away in celebration. Ouch.
Frankly, it could have been worse. The Chelsea left-back could have caused a minor diplomatic incident by referring to Gibraltar as Spanish… a chant that earned Rodri and Alvaro Morata a match suspension.
Mikhail Antonio
On the one hand, it is refreshing that we live in a time where you can listen to the unfiltered thoughts of professional footballers on social media platforms and podcasts.
On the other hand, one can imagine their managers wincing, knowing that they would rather hear the most empty, media-tested platitudes possible from their players.
West Ham’s Antonio is not afraid to speak his mind on his podcast ‘Footballer’s Football’, which also features Newcastle striker Callum Wilson.
“You know what, I think we will do better than Liverpool this season,” Antonio said in September 2023 after Liverpool’s rather unconvincing start to the season.
“I’ll just say it. I watched the game (Wolves 1:3 Liverpool) because it was before our game and Wolves could have got away with it.
“They had some chances. We caught them this weekend and it’s a six-point game. We caught them!”
Liverpool completed a routine 3-1 win over the Hammers to finish third, having been in the title race and top of the Premier League as recently as April.
Klopp’s last season ended with third place, but six places and 30 points ahead of West Ham.
Neymar
This may be a little paltry, but Neymar paid the price for underestimating Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool in 2018.
“Who will win? Oh, that’s difficult,” Neymar replied when asked to give his predictions for the Premier League ahead of the 2018/19 season.
“It’s very hard, very difficult, but Manchester City will win. Second will be United, third Chelsea. Fourth Tottenham.”
“No Liverpool,” the Brazilian stressed under pressure from fans – a loud cry considering that Jürgen Klopp’s Reds had finished second in the Champions League the previous season.
In fairness, Neymar got the City call right.
Pep Guardiola’s team may have defended their Premier League title this year, but they were pressed the whole time by Liverpool, who finished second with an incredible tally of 97 points – 25 more than Chelsea, 26 more than Tottenham and 31 more than sixth-place Manchester United, who Neymar had predicted would finish second.
In the Champions League, Liverpool beat Neymar’s PSG 3-2 at Anfield in the group stage and went on to win the trophy, while PSG were eliminated by Manchester United in the round of 16.
At least Neymar cannot be accused of underestimating them.
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Jack Grealish
One can imagine the migraines that the press officers of the clubs get when they see the combination of alcohol and microphone.
Cucurella isn’t the only Premier League star to have let his guard down after conceding one goal too many. In 2022, Grealish joked that teammate Riyad Mahrez was “playing like Almiron” – a hilariously unnecessary drive-by on the Newcastle winger.
“Sometimes I do stupid things that I regret,” Manchester City’s record transfer later admitted.
“It was the day after the season ended and of course I had had a few drinks. Then I remember I was in Ibiza and it (the video) had obviously come out.”
The following season, Almiron was in the best form of his career, being named Premier League Player of the Month for October and playing a key role in Eddie Howe’s Magpies qualifying for the Champions League.
The Paraguayan has also scored more points than Grealish since these comments.
“Jack is a great player and I wish him all the best as always,” Almiron replied in his honor.
“But this success is the result of work, more work and more hard work.”
Cristiano Ronaldo
This is just funny.
Attentive lip readers noticed Ronaldo uttering “I am the best” in Portuguese before a recent free kick attempt – and then firing the ball miles over the bar.
Ronnie hasn’t had the best time in Saudi Arabia lately.
I’m crying, man. Ronaldo says to himself “eu sou u melhor” which means “I’m the best” before taking the free kick and then firing it into the air as usual 😭 pic.twitter.com/yFXhNTeP0j
– Max Stéph (@maxstephh) 14 August 2024
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