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April 30, 2015

Football manager to reporter: ‘You are an ostrich… Are you flexible enough to get your head in the sand? My suspicion would be no. I can, you can’t’

By William Turvill and Press Association

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson accused a journalist of being an "ostrich" after his team's 3-1 defeat to Chelsea last night.

The Foxes chief took exception to being asked to elaborate on the criticism of his players which he said had upset him over the season.

He was facing the press after Leicester's defeat to Chelsea (pictured below, Reuters), which left the side a point above the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

It was not the first time Pearson had been involved in a spat with a journalist this season, calling one a "prick" after Leicester's 0-0 draw with Hull in March.

Pearson hinted he felt his players had been given unfair criticism this season.

He was asked what in particular had upset the manager only to be met with angry responses.

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Pearson said: "Have you been on holiday for six months? Have you been away for six months?

Video

"I think you must have been either 'head in the clouds' or away on holiday or reporting on a different team because if you don't know the answer to that question I think your question is absolutely… unbelievable, the fact you do not understand where I am coming from.

"If you don't know the answer to that question then I think you are an ostrich. Your head must be in the sand. Is your head in the sand? Are you flexible enough to get your head in the sand? My suspicion would be no. I can, you can't."

Pearson continued to talk at the writer despite a member of Leicester's media team trying to wrap up the press conference. (Shutterstock picture: Ostrich)

He added: "Listen, you have been here often enough and for you to ask that question, you are either being very, very silly or you are being absolutely stupid, one of the two because for you to ask that question. I am sorry son, you are daft.

"You are wrong. No, you are wrong. You have been in here, I know you have so don't give that crap with me, please don't give that crap with me. I will smile at you because I can afford to smile at you. Now do you want to ask a different question or do you want to ask it differently. Come on, ask it. Ask it or are you not capable?"

The journalist on the receiving end of Pearson's outburst, Ian Baker of the Wardle Whittell Agency, made light of the incident afterwards.

Baker wrote on Twitter: "If getting called an ostrich by Nigel Pearson is not a career highlight i don't know what is."

Video: Pearson calls reporter a 'prick'

 

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