Jurgen Klopp protests decision in clash with Jose Mourinho in Manchester United v Liverpool
IT ended with a handshake, but Jurgen Klopp’s temper exploded at the death at Old Trafford, with the Liverpool breaking into a bizarre and hilarious protest.
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MANCHESTER United manager Jose Mourinho played down the touchline confrontation between him and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp near the end of Sunday’s English Premier League draw.
As the teams looked for a late winner at an increasingly tense Old Trafford, the managers squared up to each other but Mourinho reckoned after shaking Klopp’s hand at the end of the game that there was no problem between them.
He also felt the 1-1 draw between England’s most storied rivals had been a great advert for the Premier League.
The incident occurred when United midfielder Ander Herrera pulled the shirt of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, then fell to the floor holding his face after actually being pushed by the Brazilian in the chest.
Klopp seemed to feel Mourinho was calling for Firmino to be sent off and the German evidently felt Herrera was feigning injury.
The managers then had a heated argument, Klopp getting particularly animated - hopping up and down on the spot - as the fourth official separated them.
Asked if there had been a problem with Klopp, Mourinho told reporters: “No. He thought I was asking for his player to be sent off. I wasn’t. No problem at all.
“I think the game was correct, I think the players gave everything in an emotional way, professional way. I think the referee (Michael Oliver) managed very well that part of the game.
“So I think the game was great publicity for the Premier League all around the world.”
Klopp explained: “He [Mourinho] wanted the minimum of a yellow card, I don’t know.
“I think the ref whistled before anything else happened. Roberto is a footballer from head to toe and he wanted to stay in the game. He could have passed the ball but that was a yellow card for Herrera and nothing else.
“In the end it was a yellow card for the guy who wanted to play football. It could have been even worse if someone wants to see it again and all that stuff. We [Mourinho and I] could not have the same opinion in this moment.”
Originally published as Jurgen Klopp protests decision in clash with Jose Mourinho in Manchester United v Liverpool
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