Who were this year’s best media interview performers?
Young footballers can learn from how the stars of today play.
And the same is true of media interviews.
We always stress during our media training that there is a lot to learn from those in the media spotlight.
So, we’ve put together a quick guide to the players we believe are producing good interviews.
And those who could with a little more training.
Harry Maguire
The England and Man United defender has had his share of tough times on the pitch.
But he does not shy away from media duties.
Ahead of a recent England call-up, he shared how David Beckham got in contact to offer support after he was jeered by Scotland fans.
“It meant everything,” he said.
“I've spoken throughout my career about David Beckham being someone I looked up to and watched when I was a young boy.
"It shows how classy he is to reach out to me and to message me. It was something I really appreciated. It was touching really."
Maguire added: "He reminded me of the career I've had to date and the big moments I've had in my career.
"I think when you're going through tough moments you've got to go through past experiences and past memories and where you've gone in your career and what you've been through.
"Every career is so up and down, especially when you reach what I've reached, in terms of being the captain of the biggest club in the world for three and a half years. He's been in that position and knows what it's like."
Michail Antonio
Michail Antonio said he does "the best post-match interviews" during a recent podcast.
And he does seem to deliver in front of the media, adopting a friendly, open, conversational style in his media interviews.
The West Ham forward is often called upon to give his views on the match, suggesting the media believes he offers value to their audience.
One post-match interview that stood out came when his side lost 2-1 at Manchester United in a game where the Red Devils were awarded two penalties, and West Ham had a goal ruled out for a tight offside.
👏 Absolutely top class interview from Michail Antonio after the game today
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) April 13, 2019
Need more interviews like this from the players!
📹 @btsportfootball #MUNWHUpic.twitter.com/MDVExAlnyY
The temptation could have been to blame the referee for the defeat, but Antonio took a diplomatic approach.
“Referees are only human,” he said. “First half, I was on the bench, and I went and had a look at it. He was offside, but it was a foot, and with the penalty, there was contact, and it was in the box, so it could be a pen. It could be called ‘soft’, but it is one of those things.”
He also provided a critique of his performance, having hit the crossbar and forced a save from the keeper.
“I don’t know what else I could do,” he said. “With the one that hit the crossbar, I connected with it beautifully.
“With the header – and I always critique myself – I maybe could have put more on it instead of heading it down, so it hit the back of the net.
“That’s the only thing I can say, but I still think it should go in.”
Declan Rice and Mason Mount
Fans love to hear more about their heroes and how they made it to the top.
So, it was great to watch Declan Rice and Mason Mount – a player who has been on our media training before – chat about their friendship and going through academies after they played together for England.
🤝❤️ | From being best friends at eight-years-old to starting together for England and getting on the scoresheet!
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) November 18, 2020
This post-match interview from Mason Mount and Declan Rice is some really wholesome content...🦁🦁🦁pic.twitter.com/QqLQ0GaWza
The midfielders both scored in the victory over Iceland, which took place during Covid lockdown restrictions.
Rice said: “We’ve been best mates since we were eight years old. We have seen each other’s journeys and seen each other grow.
“Tonight, before the game, when we heard we were playing in midfield together, that in itself was a special moment.
“And to score in the same game was incredible. I know my family and his family are probably bursting with pride at home.”
Mount added: “We’ve been making special memories together from a young age, and we are making more memories together now.”
On his friend’s goal – his first for England – Mount said: “First goal for him is obviously special, and it means a lot. We’ll all remember it for a very long time.
“For me to be on the pitch when he scored, it meant a lot. He said it came off his shoulder, so we will need to look at that. I’m not sure if he meant it.”
Jude Bellingham
The Real Madrid and England star can do little wrong at the moment.
His performances on the pitch go from strength to strength.
And he is confident in front of the media, showing a willingness to give an honest assessment of his performance and that of his teammates.
Earlier this year, he produced a player of the match performance against Scotland. But in his post-match interview, he also wanted to talk about how he felt he had not met his normal high standards in the previous encounter with Ukraine.
"I can still do it a lot better and that's what I'm trying to prove to you all."
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) September 12, 2023
ELITE mentality 😤#C4Football | #SCOvENG pic.twitter.com/3iTgK4pLc2
“I wasn’t happy with how I played in Poland against Ukraine,” he said. “I showed a level that wasn’t anywhere near my best.
“And I think that is the motivation always, to get back to your best. And I think that was close to it tonight.”
And there was a sprinkling of humour when he was asked what his best role was for England.
He said: “It is tough because we have so many amazing players to accommodate and get the best out of. So, it shouldn’t just be built around what I do really well. The team has to come first always, and I do my best to slot in and do whatever the gaffer wants from me.
“I probably think this one was a bit better suited than at the weekend – no hints to the gaffer. I really enjoyed playing in that position tonight.”
Mickey Lewis
He might play with the wrong shaped ball, but there was a lot to like in rugby league star Mikey Lewis’ interview after making his England debut.
The half-backs fought back tears as he discussed what it meant to him to pull on the England shirt.
😢 Emotional stuff from Mikey Lewis.
— BBC Humberside Sport (@HumbersideSport) October 22, 2023
🎥 The @hullkrofficial half-back talks about his Man of the Match @England_RL debut.
🏉 He scored in the 22-18 win over Tonga in the first test#BBCRL | #EnglandRL | #UpTheRobins | @RadioHumberside pic.twitter.com/WTD7EGXYNp
“Words can’t describe how I feel at the moment, I loved every second of that,” he said.
“The whole week, the whole build-up of it, when I got told I was going to make my debut, I haven’t let it go by, and I’ve enjoyed every moment. I really enjoyed the 80 minutes out there.
“It’s massive for me and my family. From where I’ve come from to making my England debut… if you said to me at the beginning of the year that I was going to make my England debut, I’d have just laughed at you.
“This is how much it means to me and my family, we’ll enjoy this now, and we’ll look back, watch the videos then be ready to go again come next week.”
The interview ended with host Mark Chapman, someone your young players could speak to as their careers develop, saying he wanted to give the youngster a hug.
What about those who give interviews that stick in the memory for all the wrong reasons?
Brendan Venter
Well, we don’t want to offend anyone, so let’s stick with rugby for now.
Brendan Venter’s Saracens team had just lost 24-21 to Racing Metro in the Heineken Cup when he was asked to give his thoughts on Sky Sports in what should have been a routine post-match interview.
Interviewer Martin Gillingham asked nine questions in 57 seconds, but no one watching was any the wiser from the responses.
The South African coach dead-batted every question put to him, refused to offer an opinion and simply repeated everything he was asked.
He later admitted his interview style was inspired by a character in the Mike Bassett England Manager film.
Tournament organisers, however, took a dim view of the interview, saying they were “disappointed” by his approach and warned there must be no repeat.
Jim McLean
Emotions can run high in sport.
But you can’t afford to take your frustration out on reporters.
Jim McLean, the then Dundee United chairman, could have done with being reminded about that ahead of the interview he gave after a 4-0 thrashing.
Mr Mclean became increasingly agitated during the interview and lost his temper completely when asked about the future of manager Alex Smith.
“You think I’m going to answer a stupid question like that?”, he said before adding some language that needed editing.
If you think Erling Haaland was mad after the City-Spurs game, watch this from the year 2000 when Dundee United Chairman Jim McLean punched a BBC reporter off camera during a post-match interview 🟠⚫pic.twitter.com/O6wboTHAJY
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) December 4, 2023
He then stormed off, whacking reporter John Barnes on the nose as he left.
He apologised and quit the next day.
Bob Bradley
Bob Bradley is another coach with a media interview own goal to his name.
The LAFC coach was giving a routine post-match interview when he took exception to a question about one of his star players.
Bradley questioned the validity of the question before telling the reporter to "get lost" and stormed away from the cameras in a huff.
His tantrum ensured the interview was seen by a far wider audience.
Bizarrely, his team had just beaten their rivals LA Galaxy 5-3 – it would be a brave journalist to ask the questions after a defeat.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our recent blogs and that they have given you a taste of the media training we offer through the Premier League’s Lifeskills programme.
Our training helps young players talk to the media with clarity and confidence and avoid any own goals.
Speak to us about the Premier League Lifeskills courses and other training options for your academy players.
