Calm down? Not a chance, says Jurgen
JURGEN KLOPP has offered Tony Pulis an apology but Liverpool’s manager insists the fallout from their touchline row will not change his emotional style.
The German was described as ‘a bit of an idiot’ by James McClean this week after Klopp attacked West Brom’s style for only playing ‘long balls’. Klopp and Pulis clashed at the end of last Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Anfield, with the pair not shaking hands.
‘It was disappointing, but he’s got his opinions and he can say what he wants,’ Pulis said of Klopp’s comments. ‘We apologise. We actually played three longer passes in 99 minutes than what Liverpool played in that game.’
Klopp has been surprised by the reaction to his actions, not least the discussion that his decision to line Liverpool’s players up in front of the Kop caused. Pulis said he wouldn’t do something like that even if his team had ‘won the European Cup’, but it is not something Klopp is embarrassed about.
Part of Klopp’s appeal is the expressive manner in which he conducts himself in his technical area and while he stressed he would be happy to say sorry to Pulis if that is what the Welshman wanted, this episode will not alter the way he goes about his work.
‘It was a difficult game and a difficult situation,’ said Klopp. ‘I think Tony Pulis knows himself he’s not the most easy or not- emotional coach in the world, so there were a few words from me. It’s really no problem. Usually I’d give him my hand and say “sorry for this” but I was not in a situation.
‘Then we had the situation to the pitch and then the situation with the assistant coach (Mark O’Connor) which was not OK, but I was not cooled down. What can I say? Sometimes you need a few seconds more. If I meet them, both off them, I could easily say sorry orry if they needed and nd we can talk.
‘There is no lack of respect, everything is OK from my side if not from the other side. I can only say sorry for what I said during thee game. But it is emotional. I am emotional. onal. If you want to misinterpret what I did after the game you can but, in that situation, I would do it again.’
When he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund, Klopp used to line his players up in front of the Westfalenstadion’s ‘Yellow Wall’ and they would wave their arms. Other Bundes- liga clubs do this but Klopp says he was not looking to import a tradition. He added: ‘It was the moment for me, that’s all.
‘It is not for us. How ccould we say thank you to the fans? Send letters? You can only react in this moment, directly after the game. I didn’t get the feeling that the Liverpool fans in the stadium had a problem with that.
‘If someone tells me it’s a problem I won’t do it. If it is an opinion I am interested in, I won’t do it. But it was a surprise for the players. They did not know what they had to do in this moment. But I reacted (in that way) because of the game. I was emotional.’
Liverpool will face Watford tomorrow without James Milner, who has been sidelined with a calf problem that could rule him out for up to a fortnight. The hamstrung Daniel Sturridge continues to be unavailable and is expected to miss the entire Christmas period.
Ahead of their trip to Vicarage road, Hornets boss Quique Sanchez flores praised his German counterpart as the hosts look to continue their fine start to life back in the top flight.
‘He’s a very positive manager,’ said flores. ‘He’s always thinking about good, offensive football. He wants to learn about the Premier League. It’s new for him. He’s tried to use variants during the games.’ flores, who confirmed Sports
mail’s story that Odion Ighalo will not be sold next month, praised his front two of the nigerian and Troy Deeney but wants more of the spotlight to shine on his back four.
Watford have conceded only 16 goals this term, less than table-toppers Leicester, Manchester City and Liverpool.
‘normally people ask about the strikers because they are doing very well but the defensive line is very important,’ he said. ‘ We are defending as a collective block, 11 players. They are working very hard.’