'Very, very perfect' - Finidi assures he has a good relationship with Super Eagles players 

Speaking during his unveiling ceremony on Monday, Finidi George dismissed insinuations that he does not have a good relationship with some Super Eagles players.

Two months ago, the rumour mill was agog with reports that Finidi fell out with some players called up for the March internationals against Ghana and Mali due to their lack of game time in the two friendlies. 

As a result of the events in Morocco, Finidi's man-management skills have been questioned by a section of the media. 

Finidi, who spent 20 months as assistant to José Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post at the end of his contract in February 2024, took charge of the Super Eagles in interim capacity during the two friendly matches in Morocco last month.

The former Ajax Amsterdam winger stressed that he has a good relationship with the Super Eagles players while acknowledging that there's room for improvement. 

Finidi told reporters: "There was a question about my relationship with the players. I have been with the team for twenty months and I can assure you that my relationship with the players is very, very perfect, as an assistant.

"Being the head coach now, it will not change anything, I am the same person and I will just try to improve on my relationship with the players.

"Now it's going to be a little different because these are professional players, we have to give them what they are used to in Europe. 

"In Europe you don't have to slap anybody for not doing their job. Definitely I have a way of talking to the players that they will uderstand.

"On the relationship with the players it's going to be perfect. Henceforth, definitely, you will not hear any controversy about my relationship with the players, that will be perfect."

Former Nigeria internationals Augustine Eguavoen, Pascal Patrick and Nasiru Jibril attended Finidi's unveiling ceremony at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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