Nathan Jones has publicly criticized former Rangers boss Philippe Clement, accusing him of a significant “lack of respect” following their recent clash in the English Championship.
Since taking the reins at Norwich City, Clement has overseen a remarkable turnaround for the club. That resurgence continued this afternoon as the Canaries secured a 1-0 victory over Jones’ Charlton side. An early strike from Pelle Mattson proved to be the decisive moment of the match, with the solitary goal holding up until the final whistle.
The win catapults Norwich into tenth place in the table, moving them a considerable distance away from the relegation dogfight they were mired in when the Belgian first arrived at Carrow Road.
However, the primary talking point after the game was not the scoreline, but rather the conduct of the opposing manager. Jones was visibly incensed by Clement’s post-match behavior, specifically regarding the traditional handshake between the two coaching staffs.
Jones alleged that Clement made a point of shaking the hands of roughly “25 people”—including various staff members and even fans—before finally acknowledging him. In the world of professional football, it is a long-standing custom for managers to exchange a handshake immediately after the final whistle as a sign of mutual professional regard.
A heated confrontation between the two ensued on the touchline, and the Charlton manager was asked to elaborate on the incident during his post-match press conference.
Addressing the media, Jones explained: “I don’t want to make a big thing of it, but after the match, the managers usually shake hands. He shook 25 people’s hands and then decided to come and shake the manager’s hand and I think that’s a lack of respect.”
He further contrasted Clement’s actions with his own approach to matchday etiquette, adding: “I don’t high-five the crowd and everyone else and go and shake the kitman’s hand and the water bottle man and everything else. I go, I show respect to their manager and then if I want to do anything, if I want to high-five anyone, I do that. So I think he showed a real lack of respect and I told him that.”
