Clubs must back their managers to be successful, says former Liverpool and England player, John Barnes.
In town to celebrate Astro’s coverage of the new English Premier League season, Barnes, 58, said he was glad to finally return to Malaysia and was no longer a member of the last Liverpool team to have won England’s top division title.
“I used to come to Malaysia quite often for Astro’s events, but it has been six years or more since I last came back. I miss nasi lemak!” joked Barnes.
“It feels good to know that I am no longer a member of the last title-winning team (1990), as Liverpool won the league title in 2020.
“I expect another exciting season with Liverpool fighting it out with Manchester City. That’s my top two picks – in no particular order – followed by Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal. Manchester United can be in the mix if the new manager (Erik ten Hag) is allowed to have his way.”
Barnes said one reason City and Liverpool have had so much success is because Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have become the No. 1 person at the club.
He said modern football owners gave too much power to players. That resulted in managers getting sacked after a few poor results.
“The old owners were usually fans first, and they understood that they needed managers to run the team without much interference.
“However, since the Premier League era, businessmen started becoming owners. Many do not understand football,” said Barnes, who won two league titles, two FA Cups, and one League Cup with Liverpool.
“Terry Venables told me his experience at Tottenham. He said a multi-billionaire sits in his towers, and the people who serve him tea cannot shout at him.
“But when he is sitting in the director’s box, a milkman in the stand is shouting and swearing at him. The owner would not know how to react.
“More often than not, if results are going against the team, the fans would be screaming to sack the manager, and these new owners would probably just do that.”
Barnes, however, said Guardiola and Klopp had changed the perception and had time to build their teams.
“They wrested back power from the players. Previously, if the club was not performing, they would sack the manager. Chelsea was guilty of that (15 managers in 18 years).
“Then, Guardiola came into the picture. He did not win anything in his first year, but the fans and the hierarchy supported him. So, Guardiola became the most powerful man at the club,” said Barnes, who was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
“When Klopp came to Liverpool, the fans loved him, even though Liverpool was 25 points off the top. When he wanted to drop Daniel Sturridge and sell Mamadou Sakho, he had the support.
“The other players saw he had control and went ‘Yes sir, he is in charge’.
“Thomas Tuchel has that respect now at Chelsea, which is why when he had a falling out with Romelu Lukaku – who cost £100 million – the club backed Tuchel.
“The same thing is happening at Tottenham, where Antonio Conte is firmly in charge. Mikel Arteta won his battle against Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last season. That makes Arsenal stronger.
“Those are my picks for the top five places as they have strong managers in charge. The players know they cannot mess about, or they will be out the door.”
Barnes also said Manchester United’s new boss, Erik ten Hag, must be backed if he is to be successful.
Although United suffered an opening day defeat at home to Brighton, Barnes said ten Hag must be allowed to operate his way and get back the power from the players.
“The players have been too powerful at United for many seasons. That may change now,” he said.
“It also depends on how ten Hag handles Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Ronaldo wants to leave, but no club has come in for him. He left a friendly recently before the match was over. If Ronaldo is allowed to win that battle, then Manchester United will suffer.
“That is why the club must back the manager. He will be there longer than Ronaldo. He must show the players he is in charge.”
Separately, Barnes said he will be watching the battle between Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez and City’s Erling Haaland.
The two strikers bring something different to their new teams, but Barnes reckons the Reds and Citizens will not change their playing style.
“Both are your typical No. 9s. Genuine strikers that Liverpool and City have not had for a long time. However, I still see the teams playing their usual styles.
“I feel Nunez would suit Liverpool better than Haaland, but that does not mean he is a better player.
“Nunez and Haaland will give the teams a new edge, and I expect them to score many goals.”
Liverpool started the season with a 2-2 draw at Fulham, with Nunez scoring once, while Haaland scored both goals when City downed West Ham 2-0.
