Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce has hit out at Michael Chopra over claims the players are baffled by his methods.
Earlier this week Chopra claimed the players "don't know their jobs" under Bruce, but at Friday's press conference the Newcastle boss labelled the comment as "fabricated".
"The disappointing thing is people who just generally tell lies," Bruce said about criticism of the club on social media. "The Michael Chopra thing was blown out of all proportion.
"It's laughable, really, for the people in the dressing room and my staff. Some of this stuff is just nonsense, but obviously it gets mentioned regularly.
"I'm just surprised that people take any attention to him. Some of this stuff is just fabricated and lies. When it's like that you think 'Why is that making national headlines which is total rubbish?'
"For the past four or five weeks it's been relentless, let's make no mistake about it, but I've grown accustomed to it and if I can protect the players then I will.
"Ultimately it's always my responsibility. I'm the one who sits here, I'm the one who talks to [the press], I'm the one who picks the team.
"No formation, no tactics, no substitutions, wrong - the whole thing at the minute. We can't even take a warm-up!
"Some of it is a bit laughable but you just have to try and get through it and keep your dignity and make sure you're strong enough to see it through."
