Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Diego Simeone has been speaking about Jurgen Klopp ahead of Atletico Madrid’s game against Liverpool at Anfield.
This is the second time in a fortnight that the La Liga champions will face off against the Anfield outfit, and the first clash was a fiery affair to say the least.
Indeed, there were two controversial penalty decisions towards the end of the match, and after the final whistle, Simeone seemingly refused to shake Klopp’s hand.
Inevitably, the Argentine was asked about this snub ahead of Wednesday’s match, and he says that he doesn’t like to shake hands with any manager, showing respect to Klopp by calling him a ‘great’ gaffer.
What’s been said?
Simeone spoke about Klopp ahead of the match at Anfield.
“I don’t like the greeting after the match because they are the emotions of two sides in different emotional minds. I know in the UK it is a custom but I don’t share it and I don’t like the falseness it may include. I don’t know Klopp as a person very well but I know he is a great coach who has done great work at every club he has been at,” Simeone said.
No more fireworks
Hopefully, this is the end of any suggestion that there’s a feud brewing between these two managers.
Anyone who’s watched Atletico play over the past decade knows that Simeone is a passionate manager, and while his touchline antics can rub people up the wrong way, it’s nothing personal.
Yes, he didn’t shake Klopp’s hand, but as he says, it’s not something he enjoys doing.
Simeone clearly respects Klopp as a fellow manager and this should be the end of what has become a rather tedious media circus.
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