A reporter who Jurgen Klopp berated after Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester United has now claimed the German yelled and screamed at him off-camera.
On Sunday, the Reds fell to a 4-3 FA Cup defeat to bitter rivals United after Amad Diallo netted a goal in the game’s 120th minute.
And after the game, a disgruntled Klopp lost his head in his post-match interview with Norwegian television channel VSport1.
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Klopp took offence after Niels Christian Frederiksen said: "Normally intensity is the name of your game, so how come it became so difficult in extra time?"
Baffled, the Liverpool boss stared at the reporter before snapping back: “Bit of a dumb question I feel. We have played, I don’t know how many games recently. I don’t know how many games United have exactly played."
He then added: "Come on, you´re obviously not in great shape and I don't have the nerve for this. What is wrong with you?"
Frederiksen has now claimed the altercation continued off-camera.
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The reporter told Tipsbladet: "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?'
"It continued after what was seen on TV. He continued down the hallway, where he yelled and screamed at me. I also followed him because I thought it was something strange.
"I was very surprised, while some looked very shocked, and they asked: 'Are you okay?' And of course I'm okay. I have interviewed Jurgen many times.
"I don't know him personally, but I've been to Mainz several times when Leon Andreasen and Mohamed Zidan were there, and I have also interviewed him in Dortmund and many times during his time in Liverpool. So we don't have a bad relationship at all.
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"I know that when you're one of the world's best coaches, and you have been for years, it doesn't come if you're not the world's worst loser. The premise of being a good coach is that you don't like to lose and that you are a winner."
Frederiksen stressed that he held no grudges, before adding that suggestions Klopp poked fun at his weight were wide of the mark.
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Frederiksen explained: "No, no, no, that was not at all what he meant. First of all, I'm not overweight, and if I were, he would never ever say that. That's not how Klopp is.
"It wasn't meant like that at all. He's not at all mean. He meant that I was unable and unfit to ask questions. There was nothing else."
SPORTbible has contacted Liverpool for comment.
Featured Image Credit: VSport1 via XTopics: Liverpool, Manchester United, FA Cup, Jurgen Klopp
