Every little advantage matters on the football pitch.
If you can get some intel with regards to what the opposition has planned, you’d be silly not to use it to benefit your chances of winning.
Managers often pass information to their players via notes, typically couriered by substitutes, and on Sunday, Jose Mourinho sent on the returning Eric Bailly with a message for midfielder Nemanja Matic.
Jesse Lingard had just headed home what would prove to be the winner for Manchester United in their Premier League clash against Chelsea when Mourinho decided to shore things up at the back by replacing Alexis Sanchez with Bailly.
80' – A second change for #MUFC: @Alexis_Sanchez is replaced by @EricBailly24, who makes his 50th appearance for the club. Fabregas is on for Drinkwater. #MUNCHE pic.twitter.com/4q34APPXuh
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 25, 2018
Bailly came armed with a piece of paper and slipped it to Matic who glanced at what could have been man-marking instructions or a simple positional switch.
But Matic had to jog away from cheeky Chelsea winger Willian, who jokingly attempted to get wind of Mourinho’s orders.
It was all a bit of fun between the former teammates but don’t kid yourself by thinking that Willian wouldn’t pass on the knowledge had he managed to sneak a peek at the note.
Now while we can’t show you footage of the exchange due to Premier League rights regulations, the below screenshots essentially give you the gist.
