Premier League forwards name two Scots as “hardest” managers they have worked under

A PAIR of Premier League forwards have named two Scots as the “hardest” managers that they have worked under.

Michail Antonio and Callum Wilson are seasoned top flight players, with Antonio having turned out for West Ham for eight years and counting and Wilson currently plying his trade for Newcastle United.

Speaking on their hit BBC podcast The Footballer’s Football Podcast last week, the pair discussed the question: “Who’s the hardest manager that you’ve played under?”

Antonio poses the question to his co-host to which Wilson – referencing the fact that he has turned out for Magpies boss Eddie Howe for nearly eight years in total – jokingly replies: “I’ve only played for one.

“Nah, I’m joking. Basically, Eddie (Howe) is good, and he’s hard in his own way, in his own right.

“But I think probably the toughest manager in terms of giving me a grilling where I thought ‘I’m not really happy about this but there’s not a lot I can do’ – it was Steven Pressley.

“So, he was obviously a Scotsman, fiery, on you straight away.”

Wilson and Pressley crossed paths in the 2013-14 season during the latter’s stint managing Coventry City, where Wilson had been on the books since his youth, before switching to AFC Bournemouth.

Meanwhile, Antonio confesses: “My hardest manager is probably going to have to be David Moyes to be fair.”

Fellow co-host Rickie Haywood-Williams chimes in, pointing out: “Another Scotsman.”

Antonio continues to explain: “He’s old school, likes a bit of a shout, gets into your face and stuff like that, so yeah I’ll say David Moyes is probably the hardest one I’ve been with.”

Moyes is Antonio’s current manager, taking the reins at West Ham in December 2019 after a brief stint at the club in the 2017-18 season to save them from relegation.

The podcast clip was uploaded to social media by Antonio on Saturday and has since received over 11,000 likes and dozens of comments from fans.

One TikTok user wrote: “Moyes over Allardyce, really. thought it would be Allardyce.”

Another commented: “Love that banter from these lads.”

Pressley’s no-nonsense attitude showed in his career as the Scot became only the fifth player cross the Old Firm divide to play for both Celtic and Rangers post First World War.

After retiring from his playing career in 2009 the Scot has managed Falkirk, Fleetwood Town, Coventry City, Carlisle United and even a brief spell as manager of Cypriot side Pafos.

Pressley is currently Head of Individual Development at Premier League side, Brentford.

Moyes recently led West Ham to their first trophy since 1980, winning the UEFA Conference League last season.

Moyes made a name for himself at Everton where he successfully managed the Merseyside team for over a decade before being named as the man to replace legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Despite being a failure at the Red Devils, as well as at Sunderland and an underwhelming experience in Spain with Real Sociedad, Moyes has rebuilt his legacy at West Ham.