Paul Ince once had a changing room spat with manager Gerard Houllier before the midfielder's Liverpool exit, according to Jamie Carragher.
Former Manchester United star Ince became one of the select few to have represented both North West giants when he joined Roy Evans' Reds in 1997 from Inter Milan. The England international spent two seasons at Anfield, while Carragher was trying to establish himself in the first team.
But as the Bootle-born defender recalls, his teammate's decision to take on French boss Houllier would backfire.
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Appearing on the Stephen Bartlett podcast, Diary of a CEO, Carragher recounted one incident in particular. He said: "Paul Ince, great player and a great fella, didn’t have the career at Liverpool that he maybe had at other clubs. I think Gerard Houllier wanted to make a fresh start and take on the big guy. He was certainly that, maybe England captain or vice-captain at the time, but he wanted to completely revolutionise Liverpool.
"He had words with Paul Ince. It wasn’t about him having words, as such, but he didn’t really back down. He held his own, had a strong argument in the team meeting and he stood up to one of the best midfield players of his generation.
"Paul Ince questioned what we were doing in training, as seasoned players do at times. Gerrard Houllier saw it as his opportunity to stamp his authority. It was almost like he was glad Paul Ince had said it. I don’t think the message was for Paul Ince, as I think he was always going to get rid of Incey, I think the message was to the rest of us. Don’t try and take me on.
"Paul Ince was one of the bravest footballers you’ll see, but in a particular game against Manchester United we lost 2-1 in the last minute, and it was a very sore defeat for everyone. Because Incey had jumped up and said something, he [Houllier] went straight back and said he wasn’t very happy that he’d come off and said 'my captain should come off on a stretcher at Old Trafford.'"
Ince would eventually be sold by Houllier to Middlesbrough in 1999 for £1million. The Ilford-born self-styled 'Guvnor' - who became the first black player to captain England - won seven major honours with Manchester United, but none with Liverpool.
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