Jurgen Klopp defends Darwin Nunez for ‘headbutt’ but concedes that it was a mistake
Speaking in the pre-match presser ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Manchester United as quoted by Liverpool Echo, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that he spoke with Darwin Nunez regarding the headbutt incident that saw him get sent off.
Klopp went on to say that he understands these things happen in the emotion but that does not make it right. The boss also went on to say that the Uruguayan striker also understands what he did was a mistake.
Liverpool played a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace last weekend. In a match that saw the Reds drop points for the second game in a row, it was Darwin Nunez’s red card that garnered the most attention.
Nunez was sent off in the 57th minute for a headbutt on Joachim Anderson after the Danish defender provoked the Uruguayan with his antics. Whilst it clearly was the Crystal Palace man who started it, Nunez lost his cool.
Speaking about the incident, Klopp did admit that there was some retrospection on both the player’s and the club’s side.
“Of course we spoke to Darwin, he is very disappointed with himself. The things the centre-half did, he won’t be the only player doing these things. It’s about emotions, of course we’ve never had a situation like this. He knew [it’s a mistake]”
Jurgen Klopp is a practical manager and he understands what Darwin Nunez did was out of emotion and not really anything intentional. It’s natural for players to make mistakes and let’s hope the Uruguayan learns from this.
In 85 games for Benfica, the 23-year-old striker has not been red-carded even once and it is not that he has not been provoked like this in Liga Nos, and the headbutt was just a one-off incident under pressure.
Darwin Nunez made a mistake and he has gotten punished in a way that he is set to sit out of the clash against Man United which he would have loved to be a part of. He will be back soon and know better the next time he is in such a situation.
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Klopp would want his team to go out all guns blazing against Man United as they look to get their first win on board. It should be formidable on paper but you can never count the Red Devils out of such a huge clash.
