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Cardiff boss Neil Warnock says players' bigger wages can lead to conflicts with their managers

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Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock gives his take on the player versus manager debate following Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho's confrontation earlier this week.

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock believes players with especially high wages can make life difficult for their managers.

The former QPR and Crystal Palace boss was asked for his opinion on training ground footage which appeared to show signs of a strained relationship between Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and his former vice-captain Paul Pogba.

Warnock suggested the increasing wages of the league's top players had made it more difficult for managers to stay on top of such issues.

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"I don't think I have ever handled anything like what we are talking about in terms of the players," he said.

"When they are on that sort of money it is difficult. Every manager has their own way really, don't they?

"Whether it's an arm round the shoulder or face-to-face in the office, everyone has their own way if dealing with it. I have my own way of dealing with things.

"The type of player I've got hasn't given me too many problems, I had some at Crystal Palace when I was there, with players on decent money.

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"Players should not be talking to chairman when the manager is not aware of it. It shouldn't be allowed because it does belittle you."

When asked if he had ever had an "icey stare" at the beginning of a training session, he replied: "I think most days really.

Paul Pogba and Jose Mourinho exchange words during training.
Image: Warnock says he often gets "icey stares" from his players but they don't matter because nobody is watching

"I don't think (it is unusual). You get things like that on the training ground every day of the week really. Sometimes people react and sometimes they don't.

"In this case, if that happened on our training ground it wouldn't matter because nobody would see it."

The Bluebirds host Burnley on Sunday still looking for their first win of the season.

Warnock dismissed the notion it is a 'must-win' game but acknowledged how important three points would be for Cardiff after a difficult set of opening fixtures.

"The first 10 games we've played the top seven from last year," he said.

"That was a little bit cruel on us but we've just got to hang in there. This is a big game. Apart from the top six anything is winnable in this league and Burnley are in that category.

"I think there'll be a few more of them in the next few weeks. It's not a must-win but it is very important to us.

The two away games coming up at Tottenham and Liverpool with one home game in between means it's difficult, but it's a very difficult period. The importance of the game can't be put under the carpet."

Lee Peltier was stretchered off with what Cardiff boss Neil Warnock believes to be a dislocated shoulder
Image: Lee Peltier has been ruled out for two to three months with a dislocated shoulder

Warnock confirmed Lee Peltier has been ruled out for two to three months after suffering a dislocated shoulder against Manchester City last weekend, but the defender will not need an operation as the injury will heal naturally.

While Aron Gunnarsson is hopeful of a return to action soon after suffering two setbacks so far this season in his recovery from a knee injury.

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