James McClean has taken aim Kenny Shiels after the Northern Ireland manager claimed 'women are more emotional than men'.
Shiels has found himself in the centre of a media storm after comments made following Northern Ireland's 5-0 defeat at the hands of England.
The 65-year-old claimed that "women are more emotional than men" and that they are more likely to concede another goal shortly after conceding.
Read more: Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan issues statement on Kenny Shiels comments
He said: "I felt [England] were struggling a wee bit at times to open us up until the psychology of going 2-0 up in the women's game.
"I'm sure you will have noticed if you go through the patterns - when a team concedes a goal, they concede a second one in a very, very short space of time.
"[It happens] right through the whole spectrum of the women's game, because girls and women are more emotional than men. So, they take a goal going in not very well."
The manager went on to say: "When we went 1-0 down we tried to slow it down to give them time to get that emotional imbalance out of their heads. That's an issue we have. Not just in Northern Ireland but all of the countries in the world."
And McClean took exception to the statement, taking to social media to say: "Gift that keeps on giving.
"Same guy when managing Derry said that international football has no pride anymore, that Ireland are England reserves and the North of Ireland are England reserves' reserves and now manages the North of Ireland's women's INTERNATIONAL team."
Shiels issued an apology on Wednesday morning, saying: "I wish to apologise for my comments made in the post-match press conference last night. I am sorry for the offence that they have caused.
"Last night was a special occasion for the women’s game in Northern Ireland and I am proud to manage a group of players who are role models for so many girls, and boys, across the country. I am an advocate for the women's game and passionate about developing opportunities for women and girls to flourish."
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