Jurgen Klopp has criticised Sergio Ramos for his part in injuring two players during the 2018 Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Los Blancos won the European showpiece 3-1 and were handed a major advantage when Ramos tangled with Mohamed Salah, leaving the Egyptian forward with a dislocated shoulder and having to be substituted in the first half.
The Spaniard also collided with goalkeeper Loris Karius, leading to a concussion for the German before he made two costly mistakes.
Klopp, who would lead Liverpool to a Champions League trophy a year later, appeared on Toni Kroos’ podcast and didn’t hold back when his nemesis came up in conversation, hinting that the legendary defender showed no remorse after ruling Salah out of the final.
He said: “Is Mr. Sergio Ramos really a good guy? He’s not my favourite player. The action was brutal. Of course, he can’t know that it’s bothering his shoulder, but we all know that he accepted it very happily.
Salah had to be substituted in the 2018 final / VI-Images/GettyImages
“I could never understand that mentality, I never had players like that and, when I did, I made sure they left.”
While Kroos insisted Ramos was a “very good team-mate” at Madrid, that didn’t stop Klopp continuing his criticism, revealing he wouldn’t have wanted the Spaniard in one of his teams.
He added: “He may not be my favourite player, but it doesn’t matter. I always thought that my centre-backs were good enough not to be involved in actions like that.”
Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur in the 2019 final to win Klopp his first trophy at Anfield, though they would be beaten by Madrid again in 2022 in Saint-Denis.
The Reds came up against an inspired Thibaut Courtois and Klopp admitted he was confused by how his side dominated for long periods of the game but still came away as runners-up.
He added: “In the final, where Courtois had worn-out gloves afterwards, no one will be able to explain to me how we could have lost. I have never met a team that has not been as affected by periods of pressure as Real Madrid.
“It is as if they had planned it: ‘First let them blow off some steam and then we will attack at the decisive moment’.”
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