Brentford manager Thomas Frank and striker Neal Maupay have revealed Ivan Toney’s savage mockery of a Bees team-mate after their recent loss to Manchester City.
The London outfit suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Etihad in February courtesy of an Erling Haaland goal in the 70th minute. The visitors had gone about their daunting assignment commendably and made things difficult for the Premier League champions.
But they were undone by an untimely slip by defender Kristoffer Ajer, which allowed the Norwegian to advance on goal unchallenged and dispatch the winner past Mark Flekken.
According to Frank and Maupay, Toney was quick to poke fun after the mishap and teased his team-mate with a post in Brentford’s group chat of another iconic slip in Premier League history.
‘Right after the game in our WhatsApp group,’ Maupay told Sky Sports. ‘He sent that Steven Gerrard slipping GIF and tagged Kristoffer Ajer.’
That would not be the end of Toney’s jibes, as the pair explained, the 28-year-old proceeded to bring a ‘Caution Wet Floor’ sign with him to training the next day, which he set in front of Ajer’s locker.
Far from a spiteful gesture, Frank believes that the England international’s taunts were smart in the way they used levity to move past a disappointing moment for the defender and team.
‘It’s clever using humour to move on,’ The Brentford boss added. ‘The next day he put the [‘Wet Floor’ sign] in front of Ajer’s locker. That was good fun.’
Brentford are in high spirits after their biggest ever Premier League win last weekend saw them move 10 points clear of the relegation zone and all but guarantee their survival.
The 5-1 victory over Luton was all the more impressive by the fact it was achieved without their star man Toney, who was forced to sit out the game with an injury.
Life without Toney is likely to be the reality for Frank’s side from next season, with the in-demand forward heavily linked with a move away from west London.
Toney has been in good form since returning from his betting ban in January, scoring four goals in 13 Premier League appearances.
