Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has questioned whether Sergio Ramos is a ‘good guy’, six years after the Real Madrid star injured Mohammed Salah in the Champions League final.
Liverpool and Real Madrid clashed in the final in Kiev back in 2018, with the Spanish giants earning a 2-1 victory over Klopp’s side.
One of the key moments of the final came in the first half when Ramos injured Salah by tugging on his arm before the pair collapsed to the ground while contesting for the ball.
Star man Salah left the field in tears with a shoulder injury that required surgery while handing Real the advantage in the tie.
Ramos would further anger Liverpool fans not long after following a clash at a corner with Loris Karius, who was later diagnosed with a concussion.
Jurgen Klopp has hit out at Sergio Ramos, six years after he injured Mohammed Salah
Salah’s shoulder injury proved a key moment in the Champions League final back in 2018
Ex-Liverpool boss Klopp has questioned whether Ramos is a ‘good guy’ to Toni Kroos
That concussion saw the German make two costly errors as Real went on to win a historic third Champions League crown in a row and their 13th in total.
Klopp had labelled Ramos as being ‘ruthless and brutal’ in the aftermath of the final, accusing him of a wrestling move on Salah.
The former Liverpool boss has doubled down on his criticism six years on, suggesting to Ramos’ ex-Real Madrid team-mate Toni Kroos that he would not have had him at his clubs.
‘Is Mr Sergio Ramos really a good guy?,’ Klopp said on Kroos’ Einfach mal Lupen podcast.
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.
‘I could never understand that mentality, I never had players like that and, when I did, I made sure they left.’
Kroos responded to Klopp’s critique by stating that Ramos was a ‘very good team-mate’.
Klopp acknowledged Kroos’ opinion, before continuing his criticism of the former Real Madrid captain.
Salah had been forced off in the final with Real Madrid going on to beat Klopp’s side
Ramos also collided with Lloris Karius, left, with the concussed keeper making two key errors
Ramos led Real Madrid to their 13th Champions League triumph against Liverpool in Kiev
‘He may not be my favourite player, but it doesn’t matter,’ Klopp added.
‘I always thought that my centre-backs were good enough not to be involved in actions like that.’
Klopp and Salah would return to the Champions League final one year later in Madrid.
Salah scored the opening goal as Liverpool earned a 2-1 win over Tottenham in the 2019 showpiece.
The triumph was among the standout moments of Klopp’s time at Liverpool, which came to an end in the summer.
Klopp opted to step down as Liverpool manager, insisting he was ‘running out of energy’.
The 57-year-old has since been announced as the new global head of soccer at Red Bull.
Kroos insisted that Ramos was a ‘very good team-mate’ in response to Klopp’s criticism
Klopp’s new position was confirmed earlier this month, but has been the source of controversy.
Red Bull caused controversy in German football when the company took over SSV Markranstadt and turned the club into RB Leipzig.
Fans of his former clubs Borussia Dortmund and Mainz have expressed anger at Klopp’s move.
Klopp has since defended his decision, adding ‘I love all my former clubs, but I don’t know what I could have done so that everyone is happy.’
Comments are closed.