England Lionesses manager Phil Neville has hit back at criticism from Raymond Verheijen. The former Wales assistant coach criticised the quality of football at the Women’s World Cup, claiming it felt like “watching grass grow”.
He also spoke about how the women’s game was full of teams being coached by “clueless leftovers from the men’s game”. Neville said that comment “was probably aimed at me” and used his press conference to hit back.
“He is a keyboard warrior. He sits and talks a fantastic game, but I never see him working in top-level football. That is why he can’t get employed. We can all talk a good game.”
This isn’t the first time Verheijen has made the news for his criticism of top coaches from both the men and women’s game. He has hit out at top managers such as the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson and Champions League winner Jurgen Klopp numerous times in the past.
Phil Neville is having a tough world cup
“He’s had a go at Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Mauricio Pochettino, Klopp. Every top manager in the world, he’s had a go at,” a frustrated Neville added.
“Go win a Champions League, go and win a Premier League. That’s what Wenger does – the people he is having a go at. It’s why he has an egg next to his name on Twitter.”
Neville wasn’t the only star of the game to respond to Verheijen – Mark Schwarzer replied to his tweet saying “Clearly you haven’t watched any of the games.” Birmingham City Ladies midfielder, Emma Follis, also weighed in with a slightly more direct hit, “Yikes. I feel sorry for the women in your life with prehistoric views like that.”
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