Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has hit out at West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic after the pair clashed during the Hammers’ 3-0 win against the Potters on Saturday.
The game marked Arnautovic’s return to the Bet365 stadium after he left Stoke to join West Ham in the summer for a club-record fee.
The Austrian spent 4 seasons at Stoke, becoming one of the club’s star players. He scored the Hammers’ second goal of the game, and saluted Stoke supporters in response to taunts he was receiving from them before hand.
But upon being substituted, the forward was shouted at by his former boss Hughes, who argued he should have known he was going to be unwelcome on his return to Stoke after handing in a transfer request.
“There was a little bit of baiting obviously, but did he not expect that?” Hughes said.
“I had better be careful because it sounds like sour grapes [but] I think he should have risen above any criticism or abuse that he had.
“He had enough at other places, and this place was actually very, very good for him. The fans loved him here. So to burn all your bridges after just one game, he didn’t need to do it.”
Hughes confronted Arnautovic as he left the pitch to walk straight down the tunnel, at which point a Stoke supporter appeared to throw a t-shirt in his direction.
“He was doing all sorts by the end and did well to get back to the dressing room safely,” Hughes added.
Hammers boss David Moyes has backed his player though, and has drawn comparisons between him and Paolo Di Canio.
“I think he is that type of player,” Moyes said.
“If you get him in form, and he is getting goals and showing the ability he has, I think he has something about him. And the fans love that type of character.
“I said to Marko make sure you don’t get wound up. It’s not probably going to be for you so don’t get carried away with it and don’t get involved.
“I think he played a little bit like that at times in the first half. I think if he had played a little bit more with the eye of the tiger, he would have got a few more goals.”
[Quotes via Sky Sports]