But first what does a player associate with being on the bench? Here is a few things I could think of off the top of my head:
- You have an injury and can’t play
- You’re not needed to play this match
- You will be needed to come on later
What do you think Gudjohnsen and Deco are thinking? These guys are elite players and they’re on the bench, so it shows you anyone gets subbed, even the best.
What Is The Manager Thinking
The manager’s role is to do what is in the best interest of the team, and that is to win games, nothing else. He is not there to satisfy your urge to play or anything else. Having coached before, I can say the following in response to the list above:
- The manager will want you to rest the injury, not play on it and make it worse
- He would want to give others a shot at playing, to prove themselves in the team
- You may be the only person who can make a real difference later on when the team needs you
It Is Very Normal To Get Annoyed
We all get a little stirred up when we don’t get to play. I love football, like many of you and I really hate being substituted or benched because it signals the end of me playing with the ball. But I want to stress to you, like Donald Trump says, it’s nothing personal between you and the manager, it’s just business. The business of achieving team cohesion and winning games as a result.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
One more little thing I want you to realise. When you are substituted off the field, your actions and attitude will have effect on the next time that you play. So that means, you run off with your head held high, shaking your team mates hands on the way and finally giving all your best to the team mate who replaces you. Your manager will see this and it won’t go unnoticed, trust me on this.
