“That was not my intention” – Klopp apologises to Real Madrid for stadium remark

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp offers apology to Real Madrid for stadium remark after first-leg Champions League defeat

Speaking to RMC Sport (h/t Metro) before the second-leg game against Real Madrid on Wednesday, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp clarified that he had no ill intentions towards his opponents when he made a remark about their stadium.

The two sides met at the Estadio Alfredo de Stefano last Tuesday. Los Galacticos were not playing at Santiago Bernabeu due to renovations at their stadium and instead played at their B team’s ground.

Zinedine Zidane’s men ran out 3-1 winners in the home leg of the crucial UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie. And prior to that, Klopp described their stadium as a ‘training pitch’, saying that at least the return will be played at a ‘proper stadium’ in Anfield. (h/t Metro)

Those comments were said light-heartedly but caused quite the furore in Spain. And Klopp came out to clarify that he meant no offence to anyone with his remarks.

“People have made so much noise about that thing. I didn’t want to be disrespectful. If they think that [Di Stefano] is the stadium they want to play at, that’s completely fine for me.”

Klopp offers apology

And the German gaffer went on to apologize in case his harmless comments ended up disappointing anybody.

“But making a story out of what I said is a real joke to be honest. ‘If somebody thought I was disrespectful, I am sorry. That was not my intention.”

That’s just the tax of being a manager of a top club like Liverpool, it seems. Klopp is a pretty popular media figure, so it’s not a surprise that his comments receive such attention from everyone in the footballing sphere.

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And he wasn’t all wrong when he said it. The stadium used in the first leg has a capacity of just 6,000 and despite no fans being allowed in stadiums anywhere anyway, it still gave the match a pretty underwhelming look.