10 extraordinary training ground bust-ups as Matt Ritchie and Steve Bruce 'clash' at Newcastle United
However, that can’t be said about Newcastle United this morning, after a report from the Daily Mail detailed an incident involving head coach Steve Bruce and Matt Ritchie.
The pair are said to have clashed when Ritchie called Bruce “a coward” after he blamed the Scotland international for failing to pass on tactical instructions during the 1-1 draw against Wolves.
Moments after the 31-year-old entered the field at St James’s Park on Saturday, the visitors equalised through Ruben Neves’ header.
Newcastle declined to comment on the incident at their Benton training base, though one source insisted that any issues between Bruce and Ritchie had been “resolved”.
Here, we take a look at 10 other training ground bust-ups that have made their way into the media:
1. Joey Barton and Ousmane Dabo
Barton received a six-match ban and was handed a four-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to assault on Manchester City teammate Dabo. The former Newcastle midfielder spoke about the incident last year: “Dabo slapped me at the training ground so he got put a kip.” Photo: SHAUN CURRY
2. Freddie Ljungberg and Olof Mellberg
The former Premier League pair were caught scraping by the TV cameras when Mellberg's late tackle on Ljungberg saw the then-Arsenal man grab defender around the throat before the pair were separated. Photo: JONAS EKSTROMER
3. Jose Mourinho v Paul Pogba
Not so much of a bust-up but the Sky Sports cameras did capture Mourinho having some choice words with the Frenchman… his face certainly said it all. Coincidentally, Mourinho had just stripped Pogba of the vice-captaincy role. Photo: OLI SCARFF
4. Thomas Gravesen and Robinho
The pair, who played for Everton and Manchester City respectively, came to blows at Real Madrid when Gravesen put an ill-timed challenge on the Brazilian. Gravesen saw red - throwing punches left, right and centre before his teammates separated them. Photo: Cancan Chu