West Bromwich Albion travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend.
West Brom manager Tony Pulis
West Brom boss Tony Pulis has suggested that throughout his managerial career he has previously lied and told some of his star players at the start of a week that they would be dropped for the next game, just to see their reaction in training, the Express and Star reports.
The Baggies return to Premier League action this weekend when they take on Manchester United at Old Trafford following the international break.
And Pulis has explained why the likes of Salomon Rondon and Jake Livermore should not have been surprised if they had perhaps previously been expecting to begin the game on the sidelines even if that was never the plan for them in the first place.
“I’ve had situations with top, top players – not just at this club – where I’ve told them at the beginning of the week I’m leaving them out and then looked at what reaction they’ve given me during the week,” he said, as reported by the Express and Star.
Salomon Rondon
“As a matter of fact I was never going to leave them out. And then at the end of the week I’ve picked them. There are certain things you do as a manager, things you think are right. You use every method you can.”
Whatever tactic Pulis has adopted this season at the Hawthorns appears to have worked a treat as they go into their clash with United knowing that, whatever result they secure in this game as well as the next, they will still be eighth in the table.
The Baggies have surpassed expectations this season, especially as it seemed that they had endured a hugely underwhelming summer transfer window.
And while the secret regarding Pulis’ tactic may now be out, every player within the squad will surely still fear that if they are told that they are not playing in the upcoming game at any stage in the future, the manager will probably have few qualms about being as good as his word if the warning does little to motivate them in training.
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