Jurgen Klopp’s critique ignores the truth about how Liverpool’s manager behaves in interviews and press conferences.
On Sunday evening, social media was awash with performative anger, with Jurgen Klopp at the center of it.
The Liverpool manager’s offense was his unenthusiastic response to a few of queries from Danish reporter Niels Christian Frederiksen following his team’s 4-3 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
After being queried several times about his team’s health and lack of intensity in extra time, Klopp stated that it “was a bit of a dumb question” before storming off in the face of a follow-up claiming there are “too many games” on the schedule.
“Ah come on, you are obviously not in great shape, and I have no nerves for you,” Klopp said angrily as he abruptly ended the interview, apparently dissatisfied with the line of questions.
The 43-second footage obviously went viral, with many people waiting up for their pound of flesh. The incident was so extensively publicized that the reporter involved was interviewed for his side of the story.
“I was very surprised by it, and those standing around were scared, and they were almost pressed up against the wall like: ‘wow, what the hell just happened here?'” Mr Frederiksen has since informed Tipsbladet.
While the video has sparked criticism of Klopp’s antics, which are clearly exaggerated, the sub-minute footage is out of context with what the Reds manager is required to undertake as part of his larger post-match media duties.
Liverpool vs Manchester United is the most watched football fixture in football, officially, and as a result, the media puts more pressure on the managers.
Klopp’s interview with Viaplay was likely one of more than a half-dozen post-match interviews in which he answered largely the same questions about Liverpool’s dramatic and heartbreaking FA Cup defeat at the home of their fiercest rivals. All before the press conference, where additional questions were thrown in his direction.
Yes, the German is well compensated for his efforts, and as one of the continent’s top coaches, this is to be expected. However, this does not necessarily make it simpler for him to dismiss questions that he may disagree with.
The old saying “a happy loser is a loser” holds true, and Klopp is not unlike many other managerial greats throughout history, who have objected to media grillings in the aftermath of humiliating defeats.
On the few times that his Manchester City side is defeated, Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, and Pep Guardiola have all screamed or sniped at journalists. There is nothing new here.
There are reasons Klopp claims he is running out of energy to do his job at Liverpool, one of which is undoubtedly the barrage of media commitments he faces on a weekly basis, which he mentioned when he held court on the day of his bombshell announcement in late January.
On the other hand, many in his company saw how rejuvenated and accommodating the Reds manager was on the eve of the Carabao Cup final last month.
Having not faced the 20-minute-plus pre-match press conference at the AXA Centre after Pep Lijnders replaced him, as was customary for that competition, Klopp was noticeably full of vigour as he spoke with a handful of publications, including the ECHO, inside the training ground’s Melwood Lounge.
Klopp pondered on a wide range of topics and was in rare form as he previewed the upcoming visit to Wembley Stadium, saying with the biggest of smiles: “I didn’t invent fist-pumps, I don’t own the copyright, and I don’t want it.
“You do what you do for yourself and your people, regardless of what others think. I honestly couldn’t give a s***! And you can write it just like that. This is for us and no one else. Who likes it, likes it, and who does not, dislikes it.
“It is much more important to the guys, the club, and the people, and everything will continue. We are currently writing a beautiful book, I would say.
“We wrote and are still writing a wonderful book, and when I leave, we close it and put it on the shelf, so that someone else can write a wonderful book.” That’s the idea. I will not hold anything back; I will give everything until the very last second, and then everything will be alright.”
The 15-minute pre-match preview highlighted everything that has enthralled Liverpool fans since his arrival in October 2015.
And, while Klopp’s comments to Danish media suggest he is willing to become more irritable in his final weeks and months at Anfield, the reality is that he is confident enough in his own reputation and standing among the club’s fans and the wider game to be concerned about or second-guessing his own responses and how they will be perceived.
Yes, the Liverpool manager may be prickly with reporters at times, but this is not uncommon for great managers in the competitive world of football. For every gruff response and cantankerous contact that ECHO staff have endured over the previous nine years, there are many more instances of his kindness and humour pouring through.
However, one of the numerous reasons why admirers would rally around him is the human side of his personality. Despite the bear hugs, guffaws, and charisma, Klopp can be risible, brusque, and impatient.
Liverpool fans would prefer it to the monotone, robotic nature of certain others in the Premier League, whose post-match commentary sometimes make it difficult to determine if their club won, lost, or drew.
The storm will undoubtedly continue to brew on social media, but it is limited to the teacup. A larger narrative would have been if Klopp had remained indifferent following such a spectacular defeat at Old Trafford.
