Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been widely condemned for his comments regarding the reaction to the Super League fall out.
Ahead of Saturday afternoon's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Newcastle United in Anfield, the German called on the reporting of the Super League fall out to be reduced.
"Look, it hurt a lot," he told BT Sport. "The thing was that yes our owners made a mistake. We've said it often enough, they know it and these kind of things.
"What I didn't like in that moment was it – the Leeds supporters were a good example, they went on us. We had nothing to do with that, we are just the face of the club. Our supporters had nothing to do with that.
"We didn't even have the idea, we had nothing to do about it and that’s what for me is really important that we don’t forget that. It's constantly mentioned, Liverpool Football Club, Liverpool Football Club – no, it was not Liverpool Football Club.
"It was representatives of Liverpool Football Club, we have to make a difference. That's really very important. I see the pictures the last few days of the Arsenal and Chelsea stuff like this... I really think, you all have to calm down."
His comments have not gone down well in all quarters.
"You all have to calm down. It's winding people up."
"Nobody wanted it. Definitely. But now let's deal with it."
A passionate Jurgen Klopp on dealing with, and moving forward from the European Super League fallout.
🎙 @TheDesKelly pic.twitter.com/2xMFzfIPUt— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 24, 2021
Among those who have criticised the comments made by Jurgen Klopp is footballer-cum-pundit Gary Lineker.
"Huge admirer of Klopp but he's spectacularly tone deaf here," tweeted the former England international about the Liverpool manger's comments. "Without the fans of our beautiful game it would be much uglier today."
A handful of owners try to tear our game apart and may well try to do so again, and we’re just told to ‘calm down and move on’. Huge admirer of Klopp but he’s spectacularly tone deaf here. Without the fans of our beautiful game it would be much uglier today. https://t.co/rRH40Kal0p
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) April 24, 2021
A regular pundit on both the BBC and BT Sport, Lineker was not alone in his criticism.
Nevertheless, there were no shortage of Twitter users - usually betraying their allegiance to the club in one way or another - ready to defend the German at Lineker's expense.
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