Gnagnon sorry for ‘heinous’ friendly foul
Sevilla’s Joris Gnagnon has apologised for his “heinous” tackle on Liverpool youngster Yasser Larouci which led to the Sevilla defender being sent off during a pre-season friendly in Boston.
Gnagnon launched a wild challenge on the 18-year-old Larouchi, which launched him into the air and led him to being carried off on a stretcher during Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at Fenway Park on Sunday.
“I would like to publicly apologise towards Liverpool, the family of the player and its supporters,” Gnagnon posted on Twitter. “It was a heinous act on my part. Whatever the reason, it’s not what should be seen on a football pitch. All my prayers are with the player and his family.”
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was watching his words in post-match interviews, but confirmed Larouci was “lucky” to have avoided a serious injury.
“It is much too early in the season to create headlines by saying the things I think about the situation,” the German manager said. “Of course, how it always is with these things, we have to wait a little bit.
“He hit him full throttle and, in that moment, [if it was] a little bit different position where he hit him, then it’s done. He rolls ... he is a sports boy so that was OK, nothing happened there.”
Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui spoke to Klopp after the match to check on Larouci and admitted Gnagnon knew he made a mistake.
“I was worried about the player, but I asked Jurgen and he said he’s OK,” the former Real Madrid manager said.
“Gnagnon was very worried. He knows it was a bad tackle, a bad decision. The most important thing is for Larouci to be OK.” Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder James Milner has revealed he has heard no news from the club with regards to a new contract.
“As it stands, last year we spoke to the club and asked them if they wanted to do something and they said not at that time,’ said 33-year-old Milner. “We haven’t heard anything since, so that’s where we are at.
“All I can do is concentrate on my football and do what I can. But in terms of where I am with my contract, that’s what has happened up until now and I haven’t heard anything from the club.
“I am just going to keep concentrating on my football.”