Reports have emerged this week stating that Neal Maupay was dropped by Brighton at the weekend after an altercation with a teammate.
The Seagulls ended up losing 2-1 at Tottenham, however they could have come away with some sort of points had the forward played the game.
Initially, reports claimed that the Brighton top scorer’s absence was due to an inflated ego. This left many laughing but also puzzled on social media, however sources have since denied this.
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With Maupay left out, head coach Graham Potter described it as “tactical”, and it followed an incident after the previous game against West Brom six days earlier.
He had a heated row with an unnamed team-mate in the dressing room after the 1-1 between the two sides, Maupay failed to score with two good chances in the first half.
Had he scored, it would have prevented a disappointing result for Brighton after a poor second-half performance let West Brom back into the game.
Potter was unwilling to give details at a press conference on Wednesday but said the matter had now been dealt with.
Potter said: “I spoke before the game and spoke about tactical reasons. When I use the word tactical it can be seen as a 4-2-3-1 or a system or a formation, and sometimes you have to make decisions that are right for the group.
“Sometimes mistakes are made and tempers are high and people are frustrated and emotional. You want that to a certain extent, we are in professional sport at the highest level.
“Sometimes the line gets crossed and it is about how you react to that. There is no problem with Neal. It is something we have dealt with as an incident. You move forward from it.
“He accepts it wasn’t his finest hour but he’s a young man that’s going to make mistakes like we all do and have done. He then takes responsibility for them.
“We move forward as a group and are stronger for it.”
?”There is no problem with Neal, it is something that we have dealt with”
Brighton manager Graham Potter on Neal Maupay’s recent omission pic.twitter.com/WjFayNACRE
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 4, 2020
Maupay, who has already found the net four times this season, he is expected to return to the squad for Friday’s home clash with Burnley.
Potter said: “He has been training with the group. He’s available for selection.”
Striker Alireza Jahanbakhsh is also hoping to return after a hamstring injury and Solly March, who came off in the second half at Tottenham, will be assessed.
Potter added: “Alireza has trained. That is good for us. We’ll see how he reacts in the next couple of days. We still have a couple more days.
“Solly March, we’ll have to wait closer to the game to see if it is possible for him.”
Brighton currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, four points above their next opponents who have a game in hand.
Fans reacted after discovering that Neal Maupay was dropped by Brighton after an altercation with a teammate…
Winning mentality??? Brighton never win!!!
— Julio Baptista (@bingobango125) November 3, 2020
Shame because he’s exactly what they were missing against spurs.
— Graham Dennis (@GrahamDennis19) November 3, 2020
Doesn’t seem the type
— James Stanesby (@captainstaino) November 3, 2020
— ⚽?? (@alexisnikhil171) November 3, 2020
@GarveyLorcan Genuine scumbag
— Alex Conrad (@alexhconrad) November 4, 2020
Finally a knowledgeable pundit not just looking for bites ?
— carl smith (@carlsmith_88) November 5, 2020
Guendouzi still got him in a mental choke.
— Benjamin (@benjamin_unplug) November 5, 2020
Should terminate his contract awful player
— Jacques Pochettino (@lebIaan) November 4, 2020
So just dropping their best and only good striker in a relegation fight because of an incident, must’ve been serious
— Swanny (@Swanny1875) November 4, 2020
Omitted because he’s an utter twat
— Gabriel Johannes (@GJohannes37) November 4, 2020
Footballers really have no idea about the privileged position. As you’ve seen recently, people literally die trying to make it
— everyone loves a poll (@BobanovBobby) November 5, 2020
Maupay definitely in a scuffle then. Not too surprising when all the rumours started circulating about it. Did he kick off with Connolly or Ryan or both? Either way hope to see him back for Burnley, defo reckon he bags now #BHAFC
— TogetherBHA (@TogetherBHA) November 4, 2020
See Also: Guendouzi puts hand around Maupay’s throat in end of game spat
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