Did The Lack Of English Skills Doom Juande Ramos At Tottenham And Hinder Nani’s Development At Man U

Since soccer is “The World’s Game,” as it’s been called so many times, why should one language be the dominating tongue that dictates the ebb and flow of it? Two stories out of The Sun highlight the struggle two much-ballyhooed EPL entries–Juande Ramos and Portugal’s Nani–had communicating with their teams and speaking the language. First to Ramos, who Spurs striker Darren Bent goes on record as saying that the Spainsh-born coach had trouble communicating with his players, which left the team in shambles and… well, where they were in the standings. Why? Because of his lack of English skills.

“[New Spurs coach Harry Redknapp] made everyone welcome and I think that’s the respect you’ve got to show people. He has made people believe they are good players and we shouldn’t be where we are. Obviously with Juande — and his Spanish — it was a bit hard and the players now believe how good we are and how we can progress in this league.”

So Ramos wasn’t able to kiss their ass in English well enough for Bent. Ok, but what about the players? They all have to communicate with each other, right? Or, in the case of Manchester United’s Nani, at least joke around with them.

“This season I am more experienced and I think I can do well in every game I play in. I think it is also important for me that my English is getting better. I am trying to learn about my team-mates, to speak and joke with them. I feel that as my English has improved I have become more confident. Last season I hardly spoke any English but I am trying now to take part in the jokes.”

We think it’s awesome that Nani’s trying to expand his vocabulary through participating in locker room jokes. There’s no better time to learn words like “taint” or phrases like “Cleveland Steamer” (or would it be the “Liverpool Steamer” overseas?) than when palling around with your friends. But one of the great things we love about the sport is the gathering of so many different types of people that give the game its flavor. So while we love that Nani is learning the proper phrases to communicate that he wants to put liquid heat in Cristiano Ronaldo’s undepants, we don’t think anyone should be forced into it. Lord knows the last thing the EPL needs is a bunch of stick-in-the-mud Arsne Wengers running around instead of Frenchmen, Brazilians and Spaniards yelling the same thing in different languages at the top of their lungs after a goal.
Nani: Banter is helping me [Sun UK]
Bent lashes out at Juande [Sun UK]