Xavi's criticism of journalists is part of a trend that reached its peak during José Mourinho's time on the Real Madrid bench. Massimo Allegri, Juventus coach, had a similar scuffle this weekend with journalist Gianfranco Teotino.

Fabio Capello, they say, once got into a fight with Alberto Cerruti because he didn't like something he had published. And the other day, the president of Naples pulled Politano out of his ear in the middle of an interview.