Ex-Premier League boss breaks silence on explosive Club World Cup row

Former Wolves boss Bruno Lage has admitted his explosive touchline row with Orkun Kokcu at the the Club World Cup was ‘not a good moment’, but backed the Benfica midfielder to still have an important role at the club.

Kokcu had reacted furiously to Lage’s decision to substitute him during Benfica’s 6-0 victory over Auckland City last week.

In the 62nd minute, with his side 2-0 ahead thanks to goals from Angel Di Maria and Vangelis Pavlidis, Lage opted to shuffle his pack and substitute Kokcu for former Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain star Renato Sanches.

The Turkish midfielder left the pitch in a sulk and refused to shake Lage’s hand, a gesture which is often performed between a player and his coach before heading for the substitutes’ bench.

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Kokcu shouted ‘f*** you’ in Lage’s direction as the row intensified, before reluctantly taking his seat alongside team-mates in the dugout. 

Lage angrily told his player to be quiet by shushing him in response. 

Moments later, to the manager’s delight, substitute Sanches scored to put Benfica three ahead, and the 49-year-old coach walked over to Kokcu and spoke to the midfielder with his hand covering his mouth.

Visibly angered by his manager’s words and actions, the 24-year-old leapt to his feet and scolded Lage, raising his index finger with a furious facial expression.

In response, the Portuguese manager again put his finger to his mouth and shushed Kokcu, who needed to be held back by team-mate Kerem Akturkoglu as he went to leave the bench.

Speaking ahead of their final group match at the Club World Cup, Lage declined to say whether Kokcu would start against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

The Benfica boss, however, acknowledged the spat was ‘not a good moment’ and claimed the row had been resolved ‘as a family’. 

‘The most important thing is to say that both I and the player are aware that it was not a good moment. As a leader, I have to be the first to acknowledge that,’ Lage said at a press conference.

‘He has Turkish blood, but I have Sadino blood, which also boils very quickly, although sometimes I don’t show it. 

‘The most important thing was that we spoke eye to eye, face to face, and tried to understand how two people who have always had a very good relationship had that moment. 

‘I understand that he is a grateful person, just as he knows what a player he is and how important he is to me, now and in the future. I believe he could have a very big role at Benfica. That is the most important thing. 

‘We have talked a lot as a family, as you know. The matter was resolved as a family and what I feel and hope is that we are all intelligent enough to, once again, in an equally positive moment, come out more cohesive and united to do our job. 

‘We are in tune on this matter.’

Kokcu was ultimately named on the bench for Benfica’s third group match against Bayern Munich.

Benfica currently lie second in the Group C table on four points, two behind their opponents.

Lage’s side are well placed to qualify with third placed Boca Juniors lying three points adrift heading into their match with Auckland City, while the Argentines must make up a seven goal swing.