We’ve all heard them a million times.
We are talking about those tired clichés frequently used in media interviews by footballers and coaches.
And while a new generation of footballers is emerging that seems keen to go beyond this lazy language, our media training experts thought it would be helpful to give your young players a head start and get them thinking about phrases they should avoid when speaking to journalists.
So, here are nine overused and meaningless phrases they should not say in media interviews:
This tends to be said when a team has a decent chance of winning a trophy or avoiding relegation, and players want to play down the hype. Or are reluctant to offer an opinion. But it is horribly overused, causes people to switch off and is no more than a token answer. Even if you don’t want to get drawn, you can talk about understanding the excitement or hope among the fans.
Don’t play down your skills and achievements. Tell the supporters what was going through your mind when the ball came to you. Maybe it is a technique you’ve been focusing on in training, and it paid off. Perhaps it was something a coach asked you to work on. Give us an insight into what goes on behind closed doors to lead up to these decisive moments.
A favourite of the player of the match or goal scorer wanting to play down the significance of their contribution and praise their teammates. But fans want to know how it feels to get the winning goal, make that decisive assist, or make a crucial save.
Many spokespeople use this phrase, not just footballers. But a lot of what goes on in football seems to happen ‘at the end of the day’, which is particularly odd if you have an early kick off. How early does a footballer’s day end? There are no alternatives to this one. Instead of saying it, pause to gather your thoughts and then say something meaningful.
Another saying that has been used for years and continues to be uttered with annoying frequency. It is often used ahead of cup matches against opposition from lower levels. It can feel like players are trying to excuse any future failure. It would be more meaningful to say something like, “It is a team we haven’t played for a while, and that is part of the appeal of cup competition. I remember my first experience in the cup and…”.
They do. And everyone knows it. It’s so obvious there is no need to say it. Instead, tell us how you felt at that decisive moment and how it changed your approach.
The least fans expect from their players is for them to run around a bit over 90 minutes. They will soon let you know if they don’t think you are putting in enough effort. Replace with more meaningful insight.
This one is similar to what we just discussed. The minimum fans expect from their team is effort. The other issue with this one is that it is mathematically impossible – 100 per cent means everything.
This one has crept in with alarming frequency over recent years. Apart from its rapid overuse in media interviews, it is meaningless. What is ‘it’? Because it is so vague, it will convey different things to different people. It could, for example, be seen as expressing helplessness, acceptance, not being bothered or unable to make changes – probably not what your fans want to hear. Avoid.
Players often fall back on these clichéd phrases because they are unsure what to say, feel nervous or are reluctant to offer an opinion.
But media interviews are a brilliant opportunity for players to raise their profile and connect with their club’s supporters and sponsors.
The media training we offer your academy players through the Premier League’s Lifeskills programme prepares them for the media and shows them how to go beyond tired and dull interviews and have the confidence to share their opinions, stories and insights.
And the skills we teach are transferable.
They will help those players who don’t go on to enjoy professional careers in other workplaces.
And they can help everyone navigate meetings, social engagement and relationships.
We know you don’t have a lot of time with your young players. So, we can tailor our sessions around your schedule and for different age groups.
We also offer an online course option so players can develop their skills and knowledge when it is convenient for them.
Speak to us about the Premier League Lifeskills courses and other training options for your academy players.