Simon Jordan and Jim White are at loggerheads over Jude Bellingham’s press conference
Simon Jordan and Jim White disagreed over the handling of Jude Bellingham’s recent post-game interview.
The midfielder spoke to ITV’s Gabriel Clarke after England’s 2-1 win over Norway on Saturday to book their place in the World Cup semi-finals against Argentina.
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Even though he scored both goals for the Three Lions, which has now put him in the race for the Golden Boot in this competition, it was the way Bellingham responded to a question about the frustration of England manager, Thomas Tuchel about the game that stole the headlines.
Speaking to Clarke, Tuchel admitted he was ‘not happy’ with his performance against Norway, but strongly dismissed suggestions there was a link between the team’s mentality and their on-field displays.
When it was put to Bellingham that Tuchel was not a fan of the game, the midfielder replied to Clarke: “Yeah, whatever.”
The Real Madrid star added: “All the players have made a difficult transition. So my thoughts and thanks go to the players there who have also changed a lot.
“Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Odegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sorloth. That’s not an easy team to play with. So, I think we tried to create a good environment.
“You’re not going to win every game, shooting the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty, and we did that again tonight.”
Discussing the fit, Jordan believed Clarke deserved credit for the way he delivered Tuchel’s response, even if the England boss was ‘gutted to say it.’
Jordan: Bellingham were not presented with the ’round picture’ of Tuchel’s comments
Jordan also felt that Tuchel’s interview was exactly what the fans wanted to hear, as other managers can get frustrated with post-match responses.
“But now, people are pushing back and saying, ‘Why didn’t you take that balanced discussion and present it to Jude Bellingham?’ Jordan said Monday in the newspaper White and Jordan.
“We can praise Gabriel for the interview he did with Thomas Tuchel, and on the basis of balance, we can criticize Gabriel Clarke for not sending a round picture to Jude Bellingham and getting a response from Jude Bellingham that I think he shouldn’t have given him, by the way.
“So, I think Gabriel could have done a better job and balanced it out.”
White sided with Clarke on this issue and responded: “It’s fashionable to hate the media, isn’t it?
White: ITV’s Clarke has done his job ‘and more’ with post-match interviews
“It’s something you (Jordan) always do, even though you’re in it.”
White added: “I think this. Has Gabriel Clarke done his job? Yes, that and more.
“He had to stand there when Tuchel pushed him about the attitude, and Tuchel was right to do that. I love all of that.”
Jordan insisted that few, if any, had a problem with the way Tuchel responded to Clarke’s question.
But the gripe of the former owner of Crystal Palace was that ‘the truth was there was no balanced opposition to be placed in Bellingham.’
“And now the Bellingham response is raised,” Jordan continued.
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But White pushed back, saying Jordan would have thought he would have received a completely different response from Bellingham given the full context of Tuchel’s responses.
“Then there will be no conflict from me at that time,” Jordan replied.
“I wouldn’t put this point, I’d say, ‘Well, hang on, you’ve been given a balance and now you’ve been chosen to be disrespectful.’
“I personally don’t think Jude should have said what he said. I think there should be more respect.”
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