Premier Managers Revealed: Matchweek 6, Full Review

These reviews look at how each manager’s post-match words help his players keep their confidence, learn something and get ready for the next one. The quotations are extracts from the published interview, each one followed by the analysis it earned.

Back to the Premier Managers Revealed: Matchweek 6 table

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Arsenal 2–1 Leeds United

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Saturday 10 October 2026, Emirates Stadium, London.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal: 11/12

Identity level: Capability and Purpose.

And secondly because we had a point to prove something was touched in our identity against Brighton, especially in the manner that we reacted after being in a difficult situation and context. And today even though we started extremely well and being really dominant we didn’t capitalise on the spaces, the situation, the overloads that we had to attack the goal and the box.

And we got out of that through pinching our desire to win, to have a reaction to show the personality and courage that we have in this team. And once the equaliser went in, the energy changed, the finishers came in and made a huge difference again to help us to win the game and that’s what we are made of.

Arteta came into this match wanting to fix a feeling, and he said so plainly. Something was touched in our identity against Brighton. Most managers wouldn’t describe a week’s work that way. Then he gives the players something that belongs to them: the personality and courage that we have in this team, and that’s what we are made of. Both are in the present tense and both are Lasting. The Brighton defeat is described differently and stays one bad afternoon. He drops a mark on Path, though, because he names the failing exactly, all those overloads they never used, and then just leaves it lying there.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 2 · Identity 2 · Path 1 · Good Winner* 2 · 11/12

Source: Sky Sports.

Daniel Farke, Leeds United: 10/12

Identity level: Belonging.

My emotions are a mix. I’m heartbroken and gutted for my players, they deserved to travel back with points today. To travel back without points is tough. On the other hand I’m very proud of a top away performance.

Can’t really complain too much with [our] behaviour for this goal.

Perhaps we were over-shifting too much and didn’t spot the run quickly enough.

Out of very little they were able to equalise.

Sometimes it’s [down to] a little bit of luck, there was not a big mistake, just a few details not spot on for the goal.

We’re not in a position to speak about fighting for the Champions League or the title like Arsenal. I can’t ask them for much more. No complaints.

Leeds have only lost once in six, so people are starting to talk about them. Farke doesn’t want his players listening to that, so he tells them they’re not in a position to talk about the Champions League or the title. He says it while telling them they deserved something from the game and he couldn’t ask for more, so he takes the pressure off without taking their confidence with it. He owns the bit that was fixable too, the over-shifting and the run nobody spotted, and he keeps the goal small: out of very little, a few details, no big mistake. That’s both halves of the Elevate Formula. He drops marks on SQAs and Path, though, because the only strength he names is the performance itself, and nobody goes away with anything to work on.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 1 · Adversity 2 · Identity 2 · Path 1 · Good Loser* 2 · 10/12

Source: Leeds United.

Aston Villa 2–2 Brentford

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Saturday 10 October 2026, Villa Park, Birmingham.

Unai Emery, Aston Villa: 10/12

Identity level: Capability.

To draw at home is not a good result. Thinking on our result today, we are sad. We were expecting the match like they played, a tough match. We were expecting to try and dominate the ball more than we did. We had enough chances to score, we scored two goals even though we created more. I think we improved. The last time we played at home against Nottingham (Forest) and Arsenal but defensively we conceded more than we expected. They scored two goals, had chances as well and threatened us. The result is maybe fair, the draw, and for this we are not happy, we are sad. But I am optimistic because we improved things. After the match against Nottingham, some players are adapting to us and getting minutes. We are going to need time with some players but it is something we know and we must be passionate. In football, the passion and the process must be as fast as possible but understanding for some situations we have to work hard and use each match to improve.

Villa have played three games at home and won none of them, so Emery says a home draw isn’t good enough. He says it twice. He isn’t just complaining, though, because the same answer has the chances they made, the two goals, the players settling in, and I am optimistic because we improved things. He’s telling them the standard at Villa Park is higher than this, and telling them they’re getting better. This is Towards language, and he’s putting the pressure up on purpose. He drops marks on SQAs and Adversity, though, because we must be passionate is just a hope, and he doesn’t say what this group is already good at.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 1 · Adversity 1 · Identity 2 · Path 2 · Draw Leadership 2 · 10/12

Source: Press Association, via the Express & Star.

Keith Andrews, Brentford: 11/12

Identity level: Belonging and Purpose.

There was a little bit of rustiness from some of our play, Players have been away, two-thirds of the squad maybe, for the best part of three weeks. You’re trying to bring them back onto our page as quickly as possible over the last couple of days, how we play, how we do things, what we do.

The grit, the resilience, some of our play was really good at times. The reaction to going 2-1 down to come back, and then I think if we had been ourselves in the last 10 or 15 minutes, there were opportunities where we could have gone and won the game.

Rustiness is a lovely word for it. Rust comes off with a bit of work, so the problem Andrews names is already on its way out as he says it. That’s Fleeting. He tells them where it came from as well, three weeks away with two-thirds of the squad on international duty, so none of it sticks to the players. Then he tells them what they are, grit and resilience, and those don’t wear off. That’s Lasting, and with the two together he’s got both halves of the Elevate Formula. He drops a mark on Path, though, because he never says what those last ten or fifteen minutes should have looked like.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 2 · Identity 2 · Path 1 · Draw Leadership 2 · 11/12

Source: Brentford FC.

Chelsea 5–1 AFC Bournemouth

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Saturday 10 October 2026, Stamford Bridge, London.

Xabi Alonso, Chelsea: 10/12

Identity level: Esteem and Capability.

Crazy game, but an emphatic one from your point of view.

Well, I wouldn’t say crazy. I think there were different moments. For sure, we started really well, and the first half was very, very serious. We were in good control of the game. And even the second half, we started well, but after conceding, you know, there were ten minutes a little bit where the game could finish in a more close way. But the fourth goal was really important, and after that the game was over. But it has been a good performance and a good win.

And you must be delighted with such a goal threat you look in every game.

Yeah, but we need to be complete — to have this goal threat, to be good with the ball, to be good defending. And we’re in the process, but for sure we have great attackers, great players that link to each other, help each other. And that’s really enjoyable when you see that they want to help their teammate for the best of the team.

You’ve brought Jordan Henderson for many qualities that we all know about, but perhaps scoring twice in a game wasn’t one of them, and the calibre of goals as well.

Yeah, even from the free kick. But he’s been using this international break to practice his free kicks. It’s great to see that he’s been working with him, and he said “you can score,” and he did it really well. And that’s why, apart from the beauty of the first goal.

How important is seeing Caicedo back in there today to the way you want to play?

Yeah, we have seen how important is Moisés playing today alongside Hendo. Rom as well when he came on, he did really well. So I think that normally when you have a balance and a strong midfield, the team is in some better shape, and with Moisés we have a better midfield for sure.

And I guess if you’re a perfectionist, you just want that clean sheet, do you? Is that the only annoying thing in a game?

It will come, it will come, for sure. Today we were close. It was a great win, great lead. But the win with a clean sheet will come.

And just finally, the announcement — Cole Palmer today, new eight-year contract. I mean, how pleased are you for that stability for a player of that calibre?

No, I’m delighted for him because he deserves it. He’s a top player, and delighted for the club that we have him for many years. He can be one of those players to be remembered in the future for Chelsea, but now we need to keep working, keep working hard so that he enjoys this year and that we have success in these years.

Chelsea win 5-1, the interviewer calls it crazy, and Alonso says he wouldn’t. He talks instead about ten minutes where the game could have got closer, so the win isn’t allowed to cover anything up. Then he says what he wants Chelsea to be: complete, a goal threat, good with the ball, good defending. That’s a standard everyone can understand. He names people too, Henderson practising free kicks through the international break, Caicedo back and making the midfield stronger, Palmer good enough to be remembered at Chelsea. He drops marks on Adversity and Path, though. The clean sheet he wants gets it will come, and nobody is told what to do about it.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 1 · Identity 2 · Path 1 · Good Winner* 2 · 10/12

Source: BBC Sport.

Marco Rose, AFC Bournemouth: 11/12

Identity level: Safety and Belonging.

We played not good. We knew Chelsea is a team that starts well and score many goals at beginnings of games. It is our responsibility we didn’t react the right way on this information. The last games we mostly had good performances and struggled in some situations and got punished. Today we struggled for long periods in the game. We were not ready, we were not sharp enough. Even our pressing was not Bournemouth-like in many situations. It can happen. We need to face the reality – three points after six games. But we’re going to stick together. We knew it was going to be a demanding season and we have many games where we can show up, do it better and get on a run. I know this business. We played five games well. Drew three times, lost two times. Now the first time we played not the way we want to see us. It’s not up to me when rumours start about the coach. I can deal with this. I know the team, the way we work, I’m confident, I believe in the club and the team that we’re going to do it. We can see the table, we know how it works in the Premier League. Now it’s up to us to prove and show we can handle the situation.

Three points from six games and people are asking about his job, and Rose still tells his players the truth. We were not ready, we were not sharp enough, it is our responsibility. Then he stops it spreading any further. They played five games well, this is the first one they didn’t, and he knows the team and the way they work. Bournemouth-like is the useful word. Everyone at that club knows what a Bournemouth press looks like, so he names the strength and the standard in one go, and that covers SQAs and Identity together. He drops a mark on Path, though, because he never says what changes on Monday.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 2 · Identity 2 · Path 1 · Good Loser* 2 · 11/12

Source: Sky Sports.

Ipswich Town 2–1 Fulham

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Saturday 10 October 2026, Portman Road, Ipswich.

Gary O’Neil, Ipswich Town: 12/12

Identity level: Capability and Purpose.

I think off the result, proud of the players, proud of the way we finished the game, showed exactly what they are really — together, hard-working, have quality, never going to stop, just always going to keep going,

We’re always trying to win, we’ve not drawn a game yet. Wins are big. It’s just trying to work harder with the players. We want to try and win, but we want to try and win from a calm, controlled, tactical set-up that we’ve worked on all week. We don’t want that last 10 minutes to just become random because we’re having big success in the game by sticking to the game plan.

But I guess, once the ref hasn’t given it, it then needs to be obvious for VAR to overturn it. So once the ref hasn’t given it, then the chances of it being overturned diminish. I’m told it should have been, but thankfully it means nothing. We take the three points, we move forward.

Showed exactly what they are really, and then five things in a row: together, hard-working, have quality, never going to stop, always going to keep going. They’re all in the present tense and they all belong to the players. That’s as clear a set of SQAs as you’ll hear. The second answer is the one that gets him twelve. Ipswich are a goal down at home with seventy minutes gone and the crowd wanting something, and what he gives them is the plan they worked on all week and a warning that the last ten minutes mustn’t go random. He was told he should have had a penalty and says it means nothing, we move forward, so nobody is left with a grudge.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 2 · Identity 2 · Path 2 · Good Winner* 2 · 12/12

Source: TWTD.

Álvaro Arbeloa, Fulham: 6/12

Identity level: Safety.

Maybe you don’t know me but I played for the best team in the world. I have coached the best team in the world. Maybe you don’t know but just to let you know that pressure is part of my life since I was a kid. So it’s normal in football, it’s normal for players, it’s normal for coaches, it’s normal for everybody that is around a team. I think pressure is something that is important for me and I like it. I don’t feel fear. You cannot be a coach if you feel it. I think you have to work, take your decisions and you need to show confidence to your players. For me I’m so happy with many things that they are doing. I know it’s not easy for them. It’s not about my position, it’s about the football club that is the most important thing. Obviously it’s just six games but it’s true that we need points and it’s a final next week at home. So for us it will be a massive day.

Fulham are bottom with two points and a reporter asks Arbeloa if he can handle it. He answers by talking about himself. He played for the best team in the world, he coached the best team in the world, pressure has been part of his life since he was a kid. He’s trying to look steady, and wanting to show confidence to your players is fair enough. The problem is that he talks for a hundred words and the players hear almost nothing about themselves. Then he calls next week at home a final. That’s all or nothing, and it only pays off if they win. Lose a final and there’s nothing left to play for, so nothing here gets above one.

Breakdown: Towards 1 · SQAs 1 · Adversity 1 · Identity 1 · Path 1 · Good Loser* 1 · 6/12

Source: Sky Sports.

Sunderland 0–2 Brighton and Hove Albion

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Saturday 10 October 2026, Stadium of Light, Sunderland.

Régis Le Bris, Sunderland: 6/12

Identity level: Safety.

We had to beat the block, 10 men, well organised and they were in the perfect situation to counter-attack. We lacked quality and composure in the final third at that moment. We felt that we were not efficient at that moment. It’s a learning process I repeat, we went with Malick, 21, Dayann, 20, and Jocelin 21, so it’s not an easy task to start in the Premier League in that situation, but this is the challenge. I think we are in our process. The league is tough, the league is relentless, fine details change the momentum, and today it wasn’t for us.

Le Bris gives the ages so nobody blames the lads: twenty-one, twenty and twenty-one, starting a Premier League game. That protects them, and it’s why Safety is the level logged. The trouble is that protecting them is all he does. Every strength in the answer turns up as something missing. We lacked quality and composure. We were not efficient. What he offers instead is a process and a learning process. Sunderland couldn’t beat ten men at home. Taking the pressure off works when you give the players something they’ve already got to hold instead, and there isn’t anything here for them to take.

Breakdown: Towards 1 · SQAs 1 · Adversity 1 · Identity 1 · Path 1 · Good Loser* 1 · 6/12

Source: Sunderland Echo.

Fabian Hürzeler, Brighton and Hove Albion: 12/12

Identity level: Capability and Purpose.

I have to praise my players. I think it was a different performance (to Arsenal) because we had different circumstances. We had to face different adversities, but overall the players reacted really well,

We showed that togetherness, and I think it was a deserved win. They really stick together, and they face adversity no matter how tough it is.

For us the table is not that important in this moment. For us, it’s very important that we talk about this belief in our quality and in our teammates,

I sound a little old school but there’s an old phrase, ‘defence wins championships’. We’re not speaking about championships, don’t get me wrong, but defence wins also games.

If we keep working hard for this and if everyone understands, ‘okay I need to work hard no matter if I’m a striker, a winger, offensive midfielder, I have responsibility, I need to take ownership to defend my own goal’. I think then you can have these kind of performances and that’s what my team did today.

They face adversity no matter how tough it is. Hürzeler calls the red card harsh and leaves it there, and he puts the rest on a group that sticks together whatever happens to them. The problem is small and temporary, the players are good and they’ll stay good, so both halves of the Elevate Formula are there in one answer. Brighton are third and he won’t talk about the table, so there’s nowhere for the attention to go but the next performance. The twelve comes from the Path. Striker, winger, offensive midfielder, every one of them owns the job of defending his own goal, and a winger can do something with that on Monday.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 2 · Identity 2 · Path 2 · Good Winner* 2 · 12/12

Sources: Brighton & Hove Albion and Sussex Express.

Manchester United 1–1 Tottenham Hotspur

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Saturday 10 October 2026, Old Trafford, Manchester.

Michael Carrick, Manchester United: 9/12

Identity level: Safety and Belonging.

We couldn’t find a way to get ourselves into the game. With the ball, without the ball, we were off it. I’m not happy with the amount of points, I’m not hiding from that. We need to put things in a positive direction quickly. We have to be more streetwise and stubborn in the moment. It doesn’t change my belief, or confidence in the players. We can be a really good team. We don’t want to start games like that, it was challenging. They worked through it, got themselves in a good position, and couldn’t see the game out. That’s the most disappointing thing.

I’m not happy with the amount of points, I’m not hiding from that. Then, in the same breath, it doesn’t change my belief, or confidence in the players. Carrick is leaning on the group and taking the weight off the individuals at the same time, which isn’t easy in front of cameras after conceding in the ninety-second minute. Streetwise and stubborn is tied to the actual problem, because United led against ten men and couldn’t close it out. What’s missing is the part that would leave the players feeling better about themselves. Nothing tells them the trouble is passing, and we can be a really good team is about what they might become one day. Nothing says what they already are. That costs him on SQAs, Adversity and Identity.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 1 · Adversity 1 · Identity 1 · Path 2 · Draw Leadership 2 · 9/12

Source: Sky Sports.

Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham Hotspur: 12/12

Identity level: Belonging and Purpose.

I kissed Rodrigo and I said thanks, because it’s clear – it’s a mistake from Rodrigo, because it’s not the right reaction in football, but now Tottenham needs to react. Sometimes the reactions are not nice, not positive for the team, but I think in that moment, in 10 players, maybe we played with more courage, we played with more energy and we changed the game, and from a long time Tottenham played without this blood, this character. Now I am the coach and I want to see this character every game, because Manchester United in the second half showed character. Not just with the quality we can win the game, with the qualities, with the character, with the right energy, I think we are going to win many games, and we are going to score many goals.

Yeah, because we have to build the team. Now the target is to build the team, not the group of the players. We are a great group of players, but we are not a team yet. Today, this game, we show to be a team. To be a team is to play for the team-mates, suffer together, attack together, defend together, the players who come inside five minutes, three minutes, like Mateus Ferdandes, they have to play like they are in the first 11, without problems, without other faults. We have to find the balance between the confidence in ourselves and to be hungry in the training and in the games.

To stay together, yes. To work together, to stay together, to go for dinner together, to know better each other, because to be a team you have to know the team-mates, to stay together.

He kissed the player who’d just been sent off and thanked him, then called it a mistake in the same sentence. Everything in the answer is pointed at what Tottenham are going to be. The red card stays Bentancur’s one moment. What came out of it, the blood and the character, is what he wants every week from now on. Manchester United get credit for showing the same thing. And we are not a team yet is a hard thing to say about a squad that cost this much, and it works because he says what being a team means straight afterwards: suffer together, and the lad who comes on for three minutes plays like he started.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 2 · Identity 2 · Path 2 · Draw Leadership 2 · 12/12

Source: Tottenham Hotspur.

Crystal Palace 3–1 Nottingham Forest

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Sunday 11 October 2026, Selhurst Park, London.

Pierre Sage, Crystal Palace: 12/12

Identity level: Belonging and Capability.

It’s not normal to concede too many chances as we conceded today. We had a problem in the first half, especially in the area of Ndoye. We have to be more efficient in one-vs-one situations when we defend.

I think he kept us in the game, and that was really important at this moment.

And I think the third one is more or less in the same way. That’s why this team is able to play – and we need to be as consistent as we were in Leeds.

I want to underline one thing: they [the players] give their life on the pitch and sometimes it’s a good way to win too.

First league win at Palace and the first thing Sage talks about is where it went wrong: the first half, Ndoye’s side of the pitch, one against one when they defend. A full-back can do something with that on Tuesday. Next to it he puts something that won’t run out, this team is able to play, and he uses the Leeds performance to prove it. He gives the reserve goalkeeper the credit for keeping them in the game and says the players give their life on the pitch. That’s a good winner. He takes the confidence that comes with a win and uses it to tell them what to do better. Twelve out of twelve.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 2 · Identity 2 · Path 2 · Good Winner* 2 · 12/12

Sources: Sky Sports and Crystal Palace FC.

Oliver Glasner, Nottingham Forest: 9/12

Identity level: Belonging.

I think in total we played our best performance in the entire season.

But again, if you don’t score from all these chances… but there’s nobody to blame because the effort was massive. Even after the 1-3, the players tried and tried and tried, and then effort created chances. I’m 100 per cent encouraged by this. Today I saw many positive performances, but it’s not shown by the result because we missed the most important thing: scoring goals in the right moments.

Forest lost 3-1 at the ground where Glasner used to work, and he won’t let the score speak for his players. Our best performance in the entire season, nobody to blame, the effort was massive. He still says what went wrong, scoring goals in the right moments, so he’s being honest with them as well as protecting them. Two managers lost by three goals this weekend. This one took it all on himself and his players kept their quality. He drops marks on Towards and Path, though, because nothing in the answer tells Forest what they do next.

Breakdown: Towards 1 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 2 · Identity 1 · Path 1 · Good Loser* 2 · 9/12

Source: Sky Sports.

Hull City 2–2 Everton

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Sunday 11 October 2026, MKM Stadium, Hull.

Sergej Jakirović, Hull City: 9/12

Identity level: Belonging and Esteem.

I think this is a fair result. We used one of their mistakes, we scored the goal, but unfortunately we gave them two goals. Then we showed a strong mentality because we played more with risk, we were more happy with the ball. We created a good chance for Nobel (Mendy). I was not happy, especially in the first half, with some counter-attacks because we (should have made) better decisions. We were scrappy on the ball. But this is a player’s decision, you cannot change anything.

Hull came from 2-1 down against a side that hasn’t lost all season, and Jakirović calls it a fair result. That’s an honest way to describe a draw and it’s where his Result leadership mark comes from. He’s got a strength to point at too, a strong mentality, and the comeback proves it. Then comes the line that costs him. This is a player’s decision, you cannot change anything arrives right after the mistakes he’s just listed, and it tells the room that nobody could have done anything about them. Nothing in the answer says what Hull work on this week.

Breakdown: Towards 1 · SQAs 2 · Adversity 1 · Identity 2 · Path 1 · Draw Leadership 2 · 9/12

Source: The Yorkshire Post.

David Moyes, Everton: 6/12

Identity level: Capability.

I’m really disappointed that we didn’t come away with three points, I couldn’t see them getting a goal when we went 2-1 up – I thought if anything we would go on and finish it.

It looked really unlike us, the way we gave the goals away today, it was very, very poor. The overall performance from everyone was so far below our level, way below where we should be.

Hull have had some great results here against Manchester United and Villa, they’re not easy to beat and they weren’t (today) but I thought we should have gone on and won the game comfortably.

I’m not giving the players any room for excuses because of what’s going on, whether that be the transfer window or that be ownership.

It looked really unlike us is the best thing in here. Moyes has a level, it belongs to the group, and he treats the afternoon as a one-off. He turns down the two excuses sitting in front of him as well, the transfer window and the ownership. Raising the pressure was fair enough. What’s missing is the other side of it. The overall performance from everyone was so far below our level, and in the whole interview nobody hears what they’re good at and nobody hears what to work on. Brutal honesty is his Achilles heel. He won’t go looking for a way to say the hard thing that also leaves his players believing in themselves.

Breakdown: Towards 1 · SQAs 1 · Adversity 1 · Identity 1 · Path 1 · Draw Leadership 1 · 6/12

Source: Press Association, via The Irish News.

Liverpool 0–3 Manchester City

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Sunday 11 October 2026, Anfield, Liverpool.

Andoni Iraola, Liverpool: 4/12

Identity level: Safety.

I think the first foul of Ryan is never a yellow card – never. This kind of game, just a stomp in the big toe or something like minor. He [the referee] doesn’t even call the foul straight away – he lets it go. I think Elliot Anderson does a couple of steps, he decides to go down. I don’t know why after he shows the yellow card because it’s not a situation where he leaves an advantage. We had nine players behind the ball, it was in the middle of the pitch, no danger there.

But I think the players deserve credit today because I think they’ve given everything.

I think also the supporters have been fantastic today – fantastic before, during, after.

Four out of twelve is the lowest the table has seen, and the result has nothing to do with it. Iraola is calm and precise and he might well be right about the first yellow. He thanks the crowd and says the players gave everything, so Safety is the level logged. Then the whole of a 3-0 defeat is handed to the referee. In the entire press conference he doesn’t mention one thing Liverpool did wrong that they could fix. Given everything is praise for trying, and trying is all the players leave with. Towards gets nothing, because the only thing he says about what’s coming is that it’ll be hard. Path gets nothing either.

Breakdown: Towards 0 · SQAs 1 · Adversity 1 · Identity 1 · Path 0 · Good Loser* 1 · 4/12

Source: Liverpool FC.

Enzo Maresca, Manchester City: 10/12

Identity level: Belonging and Purpose.

0-3, Anfield it’s a great result for sure. In this moment, all the organisation needs this kind of win so it’s good for us as coaching staff, players, fan, the organisation. This kind of win is good for all the Club.

I said during the week that we need to learn how to deal with the outside noise because of the situation. The noise will always be there. We need to learn how to deal with that but at the same time we want to make our noise. That is to win games like we have done today.

Our noise is a nice bit of Speechcraft. It’s City’s first game since the verdict, the ground is hostile, and Maresca gives the squad one thing to do about all of it, which is win. Anyone in that dressing room can act on that, and it tells them how the group behaves when the outside gets loud, so Identity and Path both score. The noise will always be there is the line that costs him on Adversity, because it makes the problem permanent and the Elevate Formula wants it temporary. He drops SQAs as well, because he says almost nothing about the players themselves.

Breakdown: Towards 2 · SQAs 1 · Adversity 1 · Identity 2 · Path 2 · Good Winner* 2 · 10/12

Source: Manchester City.

Carried forward

Coventry City v Newcastle United, Monday 12 October 2026, Coventry Building Society Arena. The scoring week runs Tuesday to Sunday, so Frank Lampard and Matthias Jaissle are not assessed here. Their interviews from this fixture will be scored in the Matchweek 7 edition.

Back to the Premier Managers Revealed: Matchweek 6 table

How the scores work

I score six things: a clear aim (Towards Outcome); player strengths (SQAs); how setbacks are explained (Adversity); confidence (Identity); practical next steps (Path); and leadership after a win, loss or draw. Each category is worth two points, giving a maximum of 12. Two points means the language clearly supports the players, one means it offers some help, and zero means it offers little help or risks undermining them.

* Good Winner: using the confidence that comes with a win to help players improve. The manager recognises what worked and gives constructive guidance about what to do better next time.

* Good Loser: helping players keep their belief after a defeat. The manager keeps the setback in perspective, reminds players of strengths they can rely on and gives them a useful next step. Explaining a loss through a specific external event can help, provided the players also hear reasons to believe they can succeed.

After a draw, I look for a balance of ambition, confidence and practical guidance. Crediting the opposition is good sportsmanship, but earns no points by itself. Scores describe the interview reviewed, rather than everything a manager says or does.