Jurgen Klopp was cautioned by the referee during Liverpool’s 6-1 victory over Sparta Prague
Jurgen Klopp has apologised after he was booked in Liverpool’s 6-1 victory over Sparta Prague.
Goals from Darwin Nunez, Bobby Clark, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and a Cody Gakpo brace clinched an emphatic win for the Reds as they progressed to the Europa League quarter-finals. But despite the hefty victory, the German reacted furiously after Jarell Quansah was shown a controversial yellow card in the second half of the 11-2 aggregate win
Speaking after the game, Klopp revealed he had spoken to referee Artur Dias and did not have an issue with the yellow cards as he explained his animated reaction.
“Actually the thing is we wanted to change and the fourth official was showing it but the ref let the game go on and then we get the yellow card (for Quansah),” he said. “The yellow card wasn’t the problem I was afraid Conor Bradley could get injured in that situation and that’s what clicked a little bit in my mind.
“I told the ref after the game the yellow card was fine. I was calm before and calm after, just in that little moment I lost it a little bit. Sorry.”
Klopp also shared his sympathy with Sparta Prague and their travelling supporters after being on the receiving end of the most convincing of Liverpool victories, before wishing them in their pursuit of the Czech title.
“Yeah, there is a quality difference. It was before the game clear,” he said. “It is always like this, if the team with the higher quality shows the right attitude it will be tricky.
“I worked for a smaller club in Germany with Mainz and you can win games (against bigger teams) but you really need help from the opponents and we didn’t need help. We showed a top, top attitude and it was difficult for Sparta.
“It is now a tough week for Sparta, but the supporters enjoyed the trip at least and how they behaved in the home game was great. Now the rest of the season starts and they can fight for the title.”
