Jurgen Klopp has a VERY awkward press conference confrontation with Dutch journalist, whom he questioned over Jordan Henderson’s ‘horrible’ interview, as the Liverpool boss defends his ex-captain.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was involved in an awkward press conference exchange with a Dutch journalist who he wrongly suspected of carrying out a brutal interrogation of Jordan Henderson.
The former Liverpool captain, now at Ajax in the Netherlands, was left in trouble during a tense television interview following a 2-2 home draw against Fortuna Sittard on March 10.
It came days before a 4-0 victory for Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League, one of many low points in a disastrous season for the Amsterdam club, who sit 33 points behind leaders the Eredivisie, PSV.
Klopp had obviously watched Henderson’s atrocious interview and, speaking ahead of Liverpool’s Europa League quarter-final against Atalanta, took a Dutch journalist to task.
“You weren’t the one who interviewed Jordan Henderson, were you?” » Klopp asked the journalist, looking bored.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was involved in an awkward exchange with a Dutch journalist who he claimed conducted a brutal interview with Jordan Henderson a few weeks ago.
Henderson was Klopp’s captain at Liverpool and he clearly wanted to defend his honor
“No, it was my colleague,” was the response from the back of the room.
This did not seem to satisfy Klopp, who seemed determined to defend Henderson. “Is he a friend of yours?” » asked the German coach before bursting out laughing.
“What a horrible interview that was,” Klopp said. “Do you know anyone who liked this?”
The journalist said: “I spoke to him (his colleague) and he regretted the interview a little, he was a little too harsh. He said everything on television.
Klopp replied: “Wow, ok. I take this apology on behalf of Hendo.
In the no-nonsense interview with Henderson last month, the reporter opened by asking: “Was that the worst game since you’ve been here and maybe your worst performance?”
Henderson smiled wryly before answering: “No, because we didn’t lose. As you just asked us before starting the camera. It’s always worse when you lose the game.
The uncompromising broadcaster continues: “but was it a poor performance?”
Henderson, who joined Ajax in January, was stunned by the direct line of questions after the team rescued a 2-2 draw against Fortuna Sittard on March 10.
Klopp quizzed the Dutch journalist as he previewed Liverpool’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Atalanta on Thursday.
England midfielder Henderson said: “It wasn’t our best performance but we knew it was going to be a difficult game. We only played three days ago against a good team at Villa.
“It’s always difficult but we kept going and sometimes when you don’t play well it’s good not to lose.”
The journalist, speaking in English, claims there were too many side passes, to which Henderson admits Ajax could have created more.
Returning to his initial questioning, the reporter repeats: “You said you didn’t perform well, can I call that a poor performance?”
“You can call it whatever you want,” Henderson says.
Ajax managed to salvage a point against mid-table Fortuna thanks to Brian Brobbey’s late equalizer.
Their dire season reached a new low point on Sunday when they were beaten 6-0 by bitter rivals Feyenoord, their heaviest defeat in the Eredivisie. Henderson missed this humiliation due to injury.
Ajax suffered their heaviest defeat in their Eredivisie history as rivals Feyenoord beat them 6-0.
The six-goal defeat to De Kuip represented a new low in a hellish season for Ajax.
The result leaves Ajax sixth in the table, with any hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League extinguished.
The defeat came days after Ajax suspended new CEO Alex Kroes after “indications he had engaged in insider trading”.
Kroes was named by the Dutch team last summer but was only able to take up his role in Amsterdam last month due to contractual complications with his former club AZ Alkmaar.
Ajax released a statement on Tuesday morning saying they had learned that Kroes had purchased more than 17,000 shares per week before his appointment in early August last year, adding that this “indicates that he probably engaged in insider trading.”
Ajax – who have already faced a string of dismal results, fan protests and two sackings, have announced their intention to terminate his contract permanently – insisting their position is now “untenable”.
Ajax have already endured a nightmare season which saw them sack Maurice Steijn as manager after a disastrous run of results in October which left them in the Eredivisie relegation zone with just five points – its worst series since 1954.
Ajax have suspended their new CEO Alex Kroes after accusing him of ‘insider trading’.
There was also fan fury and protests with a match against Feyenoord abandoned in September after flares and fireworks were thrown onto the pitch with the team trailing 3-0. Hours later, chef Pier Eringa resigned after six months in his position.
Days before, director of football Sven Mislintat was fired after just 129 days in the job following poor signings last summer.
Ajax were also knocked out of the Dutch Cup by minnows USV Hercules – an amateur team with students in their squad – in one of the most incredible results in history football in the country.
