Premier Manager Revealed: Matchweek 5
Every week, I score the leadership language used by each manager in one post-match interview. I’m looking for the managers whose words inspire their players and help them perform at their best.
Daniel Farke remains top after two outstanding interviews in this edition. His language after beating Newcastle and drawing with Crystal Palace gives Leeds players clear reasons to believe in themselves. Matthias Jaissle and Pierre Sage are the biggest risers, climbing three places, while Mikel Arteta falls six. David Moyes and Roberto De Zerbi both score 3/12 after offering their players little confidence or direction when it was needed.
Matchweek 5 · 2026/27
| Pos | Move | Manager | Club | This week | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Daniel Farke | Leeds United | 12 | 12.0 |
| 2 | – | Fabian Hürzeler | Brighton & Hove Albion | 12 | 11.6 |
| 3 | – | Sergej Jakirović | Hull City | 12 | 11.4 |
| 4 | – | Frank Lampard | Coventry City | 11 | 11.0 |
| 5 | – | Unai Emery | Aston Villa | 12 | 10.8 |
| 6= | – | Keith Andrews | Brentford | 12 | 10.6 |
| 6= | – | Régis Le Bris | Sunderland | 12 | 10.6 |
| 6= | – | Gary O’Neil | Ipswich Town | 12 | 10.6 |
| 9 | ↓ 3 | Oliver Glasner | Nottingham Forest | 9 | 10.0 |
| 10= | ↑ 3 | Matthias Jaissle | Newcastle United | 12 | 9.8 |
| 10= | ↑ 2 | Enzo Maresca | Manchester City | 10 | 9.8 |
| 12= | ↓ 6 | Mikel Arteta | Arsenal | 7 | 9.6 |
| 12= | ↓ 1 | Marco Rose | AFC Bournemouth | 8 | 9.6 |
| 14 | ↑ 3 | Pierre Sage | Crystal Palace | 12 | 8.6 |
| 15= | ↓ 2 | Xabi Alonso | Chelsea | 6 | 8.4 |
| 15= | – | Álvaro Arbeloa | Fulham | 9 | 8.4 |
| 17 | ↑ 1 | Michael Carrick | Manchester United | 10 | 8.0 |
| 18 | ↓ 2 | David Moyes | Everton | 3 | 7.0 |
| 19 | ↑ 1 | Andoni Iraola | Liverpool | 5 | 6.8 |
| 20 | ↓ 2 | Roberto De Zerbi | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 6.6 |
Average score per assessed interview, out of 12. Movement compares each manager’s displayed position with Matchweek 4; tied positions use the published position number. The scoring week runs Tuesday to Sunday, with Monday evening fixtures carried into the following edition.
Daniel Farke and Matthias Jaissle each have two interviews included in their new average. Their Leeds United 4–1 Newcastle United interviews, scored 12 and 10 respectively, were carried forward from Matchweek 4. The “This week” column shows their scores from Leeds United 0–0 Crystal Palace and Newcastle United 2–1 Hull City.
Quotes of the Week
Keith Andrews, Brentford
“With the boys’ habits and the values that we have as a club, and the team and the way we train, it just all comes out. I think consistently you start to see that now and where we’re at as a team.”
“We’ve been competitive, we’ve been brilliant, we’ve had to dig deep, we’ve had to show loads of different traits in the opening weeks of the season.”
Andrews gives Brentford’s players a strong picture of who they are. Their habits, values and different traits are Lasting Strengths, Qualities and Attributes that come from the way they train. His refreshing enthusiasm and energy are enough to inspire his players. I am sure they love playing for him and would run through a brick wall for him.
I wish I could give him 14 points.
Source: BBC Sport post-match interview.
Daniel Farke, Leeds United
“My players leave always their heart out on the pitch. We have heart and spirit, top fitness level, are tactically very flexible, can also adapt and change our formation during a game, and have also strong unity within the dressing room.”
“Sometimes a hard-fought draw is even more worth than a magic three points on the long road. Today we can also love one point.”
Farke names five qualities his players can rely on: heart, spirit, fitness, flexibility and unity. These are Broad and Lasting SQAs, and they explain why Leeds can compete even when their football is below its best.
He also gives the draw meaning. One point becomes evidence that the team can adapt, defend and stay together on a difficult day. Again, Farke is brilliant, and it is a shame I cannot give him 14 points.
Source: BBC Sport post-match interview.
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Low IDQ Quotes of the Week
David Moyes, Everton
“I’m actually more disappointed that we’ve not scored more goals. I think today we had 21 shots, but only two on target.”
“I am ratting the players like you wouldn’t believe. Why are we not scoring more?”
Everton have won, but Moyes focuses the players’ Attention on failure”. He gives the players no SQA to rely on and no Path that tells them how their finishing will improve. “Why are we not scoring more?” makes the problem Broad and leaves the players with frustration rather than guidance.
This was an opportunity to use the confidence of a win to praise the chance creation and explain how they would work on their finishing in training. Moyes does neither, so the interview earns 3/12.
Source: BBC Sport post-match interview.
Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham Hotspur
“I didn’t speak with the players today because I didn’t want to say nothing.”
Spurs had just made their worst Premier League start after five matches, with two points and a −6 goal difference. This was the moment De Zerbi needed to manage his State and give the players something credible to believe in. Saying nothing was an abdication of that responsibility.
He could have reminded them that they dominated the first half, that Villa scored their first goal while Spurs had ten men because of an injury, and that two late goals showed what the players can do when they play with freedom. Instead, he offered no Path into the next match. That leaves him with 3/12 and raises doubts about whether he has the qualities to pull Spurs out of the slump.
Source: Tottenham Hotspur post-match press conference.
How the scores work
Each manager can earn two points in six areas: a Towards Outcome; usable team SQAs; adversity framed as Other, Narrow and Fleeting; Identity protected or elevated; a credible Path; and leadership appropriate to the result. For winners, that includes proportionate credit and respect for the opponent. For losing managers, it includes responsibility without allowing one result to define the team. Drawn matches are judged on how clearly the manager gives the point meaning and direction.
