Angry Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp blasts reporter after Atletico thriller: ‘You are not a nice person’

George Flood20 October 2021

An irate Jurgen Klopp walked away from an interview after Liverpool’s dramatic Champions League win over Atletico Madrid amid questions over opposite number Diego Simeone snubbing his offer of a post-match handshake.

Simeone sped straight down the tunnel at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday evening after witnessing his team come out on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller in Group B.

Klopp was eager to play down any suggestions of a rift after full time, however, stressing that the Argentine was obviously “angry” with the game rather than him, insisting that both coaches were emotional and that “when we see each other next time we will shake hands definitely and it’s like nothing happened.”

“The situation is clear, I wanted to shake his hand and he didn’t want to. His reaction was for sure not right and mine was not too good as well,” he said.

In a subsequent interview with Spanish broadcasters, the Liverpool boss took exception to suggestions that he had been at all angered.

“Why was I angry?” he questioned.

“Come on, I’m not such an idiot that you come with the little bit question here, I was not angry at all.

“Have a look. You want to make a story out of that I can imagine. I want to shake his hand, he doesn’t want it.

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

A visibly annoyed Klopp then walked away from the interview.

Explaining his decision to go straight down the tunnel, the ultra-competitive and passionate Simeone said he does not always like to engage in post-match pleasantries with the opposition bench.

“I don’t always greet (the other manager) after the game because I don’t like it,” he told reporters.

“It’s not healthy for either the winner or the loser. I think of it that way. But now, when I see him, I’ll greet him without a problem.”

Liverpool led 2-0 early on their return to the scene of their 2019 Champions League final triumph against Tottenham thanks to goals from the in-form Mo Salah and Naby Keita.

However, Antoine Griezmann hit back for Atletico with a first-half double before being dismissed after the interval, with Salah eventually netting the winner from the penalty spot after Mario Hermoso’s foul on Diogo Jota.

Jota then earned a late reprieve after a penalty award for his challenge on Jose Gimenez was overturned.

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