Opinion – Marina Izidro: Coaches have stolen the spotlight at the beginning of the Premier League

Before the match against Tottenham, Mikel Arteta gathers the players in the dressing room. On one board, Arsenal manager draws a heart and a brain holding hands with smiley faces. Analogy of what it took to win the game. won.

Possibly, no one other than those present would know that that lecture took place were it not for the new season of “All or Nothing”, which premiered this month in the UK (warning: contains “spoiler”).

The documentary series has already shown behind the scenes of Manchester City and Tottenham, and has now followed Arsenal in the 2021/22 season. Rare chance to get to know the personalities of the players, sometimes plastered by “media training” and club restrictions.

Find out what goes on behind closed doors – before taking on Liverpool, Arteta set up loudspeakers at practice with the rival fans’ anthem, “You will never walk alone”, to simulate the Anfield atmosphere. Or what’s behind transfers like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s to Barcelona, ​​when the striker lost his captaincy and the relationship fell apart.

For the first time, the audience sees the coach’s unconventional approach — such as asking players to rub their hands together with their eyes closed to create positive energy. In a lecture, he reveals that he had heart surgery as a child. Access to English football is so restricted that it is not surprising the huge impact of the series that has Arteta as a central figure. Incidentally, as the Premier League season is at the beginning, it is the teachers who have been stealing the show.

Also in London, the confusion between Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel and Tottenham coach Antonio Conte was much more talked about than the 2-2 draw. he let go of Conte’s hand as he greeted him and told the Italian to look at him. “I thought that when you shook hands, people looked each other in the eye, but Antonio had a different opinion,” said the German, already calm, after the game.

Jürgen Klopp is not enjoying the spotlight. The (almost) always friendly Liverpool manager gave a cross-response to a reporter from England’s main sports channel when asked why the new signing, Uruguayan Darwin Núñez, would start playing against Crystal Palace.

“Because we don’t have another striker. I’m curious to see you look at the squad, prepare the interview and ask me that. But ok.” Klopp kicked, and, Núñez, headbutted the rival defender. He was sent off, and Liverpool drew. For the team that will fight for the title with the almost perfect Manchester City, it was like a defeat.

But there can’t be a more stressed coach in the Premier League than Erik ten Hag. He has taken over troubled Manchester United and, every day, he sees the scale of the challenge: rumors that the club might be sold; two defeats in two games – including a humiliating 4-0 to Brentford; the novel Cristiano Ronaldo. The 37-year-old star wants to go out and play in the Champions League as United failed to qualify. It remains to be seen where, and the transfer window closes on September 1.

Ten Hag will get Casemiro’s reinforcement, but still nothing to celebrate. On Monday (22), they face Liverpool, who thrashed the Manchester club 5-0 at Old Trafford last October. And when it comes to United, it seems like nothing is so bad that it can’t get worse.