Mourinho defends Klopp after touchline outburst

Mourinho defends Klopp after touchline outburst

Jose Mourinho has defended Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp following his touchline outburst at the weekend and says he’s ‘happy’ the German wasn’t punished by the officials after the incident.

Klopp was cautioned during Saturday’s victory over Liverpool after he sprinted 20-yards down the touchline to berate his defender Dejan Lovren.

Officials quickly stepped in however, directing Klopp back to his technical area before referee Craig Pawson decided there was no further action needed.


Mourinho experienced a similar situation earlier in the season when he stepped out of his technical area, but the Portuguese was instead sent to the stands for the remainder of the game.

And following the officials handling of the situation at Old Trafford at the weekend, Mourinho has praised referee Craig Pawson and fourth official Martin Atkinson for not over-reacting.

“Probably you are not expecting my answer – but I’m happy with the decision,’ Mourinho said after the game.

“He (Klopp) was not speaking against the referee. He was upset with a player and the same happened to me against Crystal Palace where I was upset with my player and therefore they (the officials) understood that too.

“I think Martin Atkinson, after so many years of this, I think made the right decision. I saw it. He (Klopp) was very upset with his player and not at the referee.

“If you leave the technical area by a couple of metres – or in this case 20 metres – but to speak to your own player and not to complain about the referee’s decision, then they made the right decision.”

United ran out 2-1 winners on Saturday thanks to a first-half Marcus Rashford brace, with the result extending the Red Devil’s lead over Liverpool, who are in third place in the Premier League, to five points.