Under-fire Arsenal manager Unai Emery has been ridiculed for holding a dressing room vote over who should get the captaincy.
But it has now emerged that it was not his idea - and yet he has paid a heavy price for it.
It was dreamed up by Arsenal ’s psychologist David Priestley to try and share leadership duties.
The captaincy saga has caused much debate this season after Granit Xhaka was axed following his x-rated outburst at Arsenal fans, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang recently being appointed as the new permanent skipper.
It was Priestley who last season convinced Emery it was a good idea to share the rabble-rousing “team huddle” duties before each game by getting different members of staff to do it.
Ameesh Manek, who is primarily in charge of organising first-team travel, did the pre-match ritual before the shock defeat to Crystal Palace in April which put them on a run of three losses which cost them a place in the top four last season.
Emery looks as vulnerable as Arsenal’s defence right now and, having struggled at Paris Saint-Germain, this will surely be his last crack at managing a top club.
Spaniard Emery, who won three back-to-back Europa League titles with Sevilla, has struggled to manage big names, his team lacks identity while the players look as if they are struggling with his instructions and tactics.
Emery ostracised Mesut Ozil and then brought him back, plays Lucas Torreira out of position and has struggled to get the best out of £72m record signing Nicolas Pepe.
His poor English does not help and his regular opening gambit - “good ebening” - causes him to be mocked behind his back by Arsenal players who are rapidly losing faith and confidence in his methods.
The manager's misery was compounded over the weekend when Leicester eased to a comfortable 2-0 win over the Gunners at the King Power.
The beleaguered Spaniard has defended his team time and again and has asked for patience as the international fixtures promise to give him a little respite from growing criticism.
"For me, as a coach, it's about continuing stronger and improving with our players," he said.
"I am speaking with the club to stay calm and to stay patient to improve and recover some confidence with some circumstances.
"We are receiving criticism but I know that's my job. I've had lots of moments like that but I've recovered by working to get confidence, being together with the club and players.
"I accept all (of the criticism). I accept the applause and I accept it when they criticise us. I know when we win, they are going to be happy and when we lose, they are going to be sad. It's normal.
"We need to stay calm and also keep improving things. Today we got one step ahead by being together and being strong defensively. But we lost because we were playing a very strong team in a good moment."
