Jurgen Klopp has revealed why he reacted so angrily to Jose Mourinho on the touchline, following a clash between Roberto Firmino and Ander Herrera in Sunday’s Old Trafford showdown.
Manchester United and Liverpool had to settle for a point apiece in front of the cameras, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic heading a late equaliser after James Milner’s first-half penalty.
Klopp playfully took a dig at his rivals over their unwelcoming programme notes and poor beverage choices, as well as describing their tactics as “long balls” in a “wild game”.
But it was Mourinho’s reaction that riled the former Borussia Dortmund boss when Herrera went to ground after a push by Firmino, with the Brazilian reacting to his shirt being pulled back.
“He [Mourinho] wanted the minimum of a yellow card, I don’t know,” Klopp said. “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. 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 [Klopp and Mourinho] could not have the same opinion in this moment.”
Mourinho, who remonstrated with the fourth official after the incident, played down the bust-up with Klopp that also involved Manchester United assistant Rui Faria.
“He thought I was asking for his player to be sent off,” the United manager said. “I wasn’t. There was no problem at all.
“I think the game was correct. I think the players gave everything but in an emotional and professional way so the referee did very well.
“There was aggression but it was good. We deserved more but the point is something everyone must accept. They were clever. They took their time. They knew they would be in trouble in the final few minutes.”
Despite the hostilities, the pair shook hands, albeit very briefly, at the final whistle. Klopp did, however, have one a dig at their weekend hosts prior to the match at Old Trafford.
Klopp said: “I read the programme notes and it is the first time that there was nothing about ‘Welcome to Liverpool’ or something like this.
“That’s the first thing. Then I wanted a coffee and in the can was only tea. It’s started already, yeah? It’s all OK. It’s football and we are ready for it!”
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