1) You’re expecting football players to develop some level of erudition (or at least a better than common grasp of their own language). I don’t know about Europe but in North America, many of the professional athletes are actually given some training on dealing with the media and are coached on things to say. It’s more convenient to have the player recite some cliche than to say something that creates controversy within the team.

2) Sports journalists have been leaning on cliches dating back to what seems like the invention of the printing press. Announcers have also bought into this secret society and through the repetition of these phrases they seek to numb the minds of the general populace. So far, it seems to be working.

Why is a left foot either trusty or educated but a right foot is neither?
Why is a back pass almost invariably suicidal?
Why are hooligans almost a tiny minority even when there seem to be hundreds of them throwing seats across Kenilworth Road?

TT