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Amidst all the intense action on the pitch in football, there are a few light-hearted moments off it as well. And press conferences offer such moments on an almost weekly basis. When players and managers are in a good mood, they do tend to let their guard down and prove that they, too, are only human.
Technology has advanced over the decades and voice recorders have now been replaced with mobile phones. However, there is the odd reporter who forgets to switch it to ‘Airplane’ mode before placing his phone next to the microphone and that is when such moments are produced.
1) Jose Mourinho
As Manchester United prepared to play their biggest rivals Liverpool, Jose Mourinho’s press conference was underway when he was interrupted by a phone ringing on the table before him. The Portuguese boss stopped mid-sentence, picked up the phone and calmly said, “Hello?”
As he listened to the voice on the other end of the line, he shook his head before looking at the assembled reporters, announcing: “It’s from Talk Sport,” as the press gathered laughed out loud.
The guilty reporter apologises profusely with a sheepish smile but Mourinho does not seem too perturbed by the interruption and smiles while handing the phone to him – even asking ‘Abby from Talk Sport’ to "wait a second, please."
Luckily for the reporter, this did not happen after a controversial loss that usually sees the manager in a foul mood. Mourinho simply smiled and then asked: “What was the question?”
2) Neil Lennon
While Mourinho was interrupted by just the one call, former Celtic boss Neil Lennon had to pause his press conference twice to answer a phone ringing on his table. And it wasn’t the journalist’s office calling but his wife!
You know a phone call is coming even before the phone rings as the signal interferes with the microphone and a buzzing sound is audible. When the phone does ring, Lennon ignores it for the first few seconds before picking it up and answering it as the reporters have a good laugh.
However, the caller hangs up the first time and just as Lennon gets ready to resume, the phone rings again! This time he asks around and finds out that it is a reporter’s wife who is calling and finds out her name.
“You’ve got to stop interrupting my press conference,” he says. The caller obviously asks who it is on the other end of the line and Lennon introduces himself after which she hangs up while Lennon shares a laugh with the media.
3) Sean Dyche
Burnley boss Sean Dyche was answering a few questions following a 2-1 win over Leeds United when a journalist’s phone rang. Dyche has a look around and says, “That's a fine if someone's phone is ringing,” before proceeding to answer the call.
“This is Sean Dyche, manager of Burnley,” he says into the phone and reiterates himself probably because the person on the other end of the line didn’t believe him.
“There’s a phone on my table and I’m actually doing an interview and you rang to disturb me. So I decided to answer it to see what you were disturbing me about.”
It turns out that it was former Fulham player Kieran Richardson’s father and Dyche even asks him his plans for the evening. Top man!
4) Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry was known to be quite a reserved player off the pitch and he was also the victim of an interruption during a press conference. Ahead of a Champions League clash, the former Arsenal and Barcelona star had to stop mid-sentence as the interference from the phone just could not be ignored.
The caller simply refused to hang up until someone answered the call and that is when the press officer suggests Henry should pick up the call. Henry obliges and even switches on the loudspeaker so everyone in the room can hear the conversation.
The caller’s question is inaudible, presumably asking the owner of the phone if he was meeting him, but Henry says” Maybe, but I’ll call you later... We’re doing Thierry Henry. So I’ll call you after, yeah?”
Henry’s smile after the call is priceless!
5) Arsene Wenger
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was in pretty high spirits following his side’s 3-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League and even before his press conference could start a phone on the table started ringing, much to the French manager’s amusement.
With a twinkle in his eye, he picks the guilty party’s phone and shows it to the reporters as one of them says: “It’s for you. It’s for you, Arsene.”
Wenger, quite the raconteur himself, quickly responds: “It’s your wife,” leading to more laughter from the reporters.
One reporter then says, “It’s Jose...” A subtle dig at Wenger in reference to the acrimonious relationship he shares with Mourinho. Wenger only laughs it off, though. Nothing was going to ruin his day – not even a phone call from Mourinho.
It wasn’t the first time. There was another occasion where he sees a phone ringing and lets the reporters know that he can take the call if they want.
6) Antonio Conte
The 2017/18 season clearly did not go to plan for Antonio Conte and Chelsea. The defending Premier League champions were dethroned and the Blues were never really in the title race, let alone the top four race.
So there wasn't much to celebrate but all it took was one phone call to make Conte laugh again. He had been a picture of resignation over many months and it was a rare occasion to see him smile and laugh.
At the press conference ahead of the FA Cup semi-final, Conte's press conference was interrupted by a phone call from his wife. His expression when he realises his phone was not in silent mode is priceless!
The Italian manager immediately apologises and was even ready to accept a fine because he admitted he would be annoyed too if it happened to someone else. One reporter even suggests his wife had called to ask him to bring home some milk, eliciting laughter from everyone present.
#7 Unai Emery
New Arsenal boss was only into his fourth pre-match press conference in the Premier League when he, too, was rudely interrupted by a journalist's phone.
The Spanish boss was responding to a question about a report that wasn't true and he was explaining his understanding of the situation and the phone rang at the right moment to diffuse a little tension in the room.
Emery first smiles and picks up the phone, asking the assembled journalists whether he could answer, before proceeding to answer it.
"Ok, good morning... Or good afternoon. I am Unai Emery! How are you? Yeah... we are working."
That's when the person at the other end hangs up, probably after having experienced his heart skip a few beats!
