Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

Klopp storms out of Liverpool interview after Simeone question makes ‘angry’

Jurgen Klopp on touchline before Liverpool v Burnley August 2021

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp cut short one of his post-Atletico Madrid interviews after a loaded question from a reporter.

The Reds hung on to win 3-2 in Madrid on Tuesday and take full control of Group B in the Champions League. They now sit five points clear at the top, ahead of Atletico.

Atletico and Porto still have to play at Anfield, so Liverpool will want to move to the last 16 as group winners.

Following an action-packed game that had four first-half goals and a VAR-dominated second half, Atletico boss Diego Simeone caught the spotlight.

He refused to shake Klopp’s hand, instead running down the tunnel. The Argentine explained afterwards that he feels post-match handshake are not always “healthy” and he “doesn’t like” them.

Both him and Klopp have insisted that there is no bad blood between them. Klopp said they will shake hands “as if nothing happened” the next time they meet.

However, the Liverpool boss vented his frustrations at one reporter, who asked why Klopp felt “angry” at the full-time whistle when Simeone ran down the tunnel.

“Why was I angry?” the Liverpool boss said. “Come on, I’m not such an idiot… I was not angry at all. Have a look. But you want to make a story of that I can imagine.

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“I wanted to shake his hand, he didn’t want to. In that moment I can understand that, he was running inside.

“He’s emotional, I’m emotional, and you are not a nice person because you want to make a story of that.

“You say I’m angry? When was I angry? I’m now angry because of your question.”

Klopp then walked off camera, cutting the interview short.

Klopp clarifies Simeone handshake situation

Jurgen Klopp Liverpool

Speaking to BT Sport, Klopp said: “The situation is clear: I want to shake his hand and he didn’t want to shake mine.

“His reaction was for sure not right but mine wasn’t too cool as well.

“But we are both emotional so when I see him next time we will shake hands definitely, as if nothing had happened. He was obviously angry, not with me but with the game, and it’s nothing else.”

While Liverpool sit top of Group B, there is now a scrap between Atletico and Porto – both on four points – for second place.

AC Milan, who have no points, could yet find their way back into contention with three matches left.


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