Ex-Premier League manager speaks out on heated clash with player at Club World Cup

Former Wolves manager Bruno Lage has acknowledged the heated touchline dispute with Orkun Kokcu during the Club World Cup was a regrettable moment. Despite the incident, Lage expressed support for Kokcu's continued important role at Benfica.

During Benfica's 6-0 win over Auckland City, Lage substituted Kokcu in the 62nd minute when the team was leading 2-0. Kokcu reacted angrily to being replaced by Renato Sanches, refusing to shake Lage's hand as is customary.

Reportedly, Kokcu directed offensive language towards Lage and sat on the bench reluctantly after the substitution. Lage gestured for Kokcu to be quiet in response to the escalating argument.

Following Sanches' goal after being substituted, Lage approached Kokcu, leading to a confrontation where Kokcu expressed his displeasure visibly. Lage attempted to calm the situation by speaking with Kokcu, emphasizing the need to resolve the issue within the team.

Lage refrained from confirming Kokcu's starting position for the next match against Bayern Munich. He acknowledged the disagreement as a challenging moment but emphasized that both he and Kokcu recognized the need to address it and move forward positively.

Despite the incident, Kokcu was named on the bench for Benfica's subsequent match against Bayern Munich. Benfica currently holds the second position in Group C, trailing Bayern Munich by two points, with a strong chance of advancing to the next stage.