The Norwegian journalist at the centre of Jurgen Klopp’s post-match interview strop has revealed the Liverpool manager ‘scared’ bystanders by ‘shouting and screaming’ once the cameras stopped.
Klopp stormed out of his interview on ViaPlay after Liverpool bowed out of the FA Cup following a dramatic 4-3 defeat to Manchester United.
The Liverpool boss fronted up for his post-match media responsibilities but took exception to a question from Niels Christian Fredericksen about whether they had played too many matches and it had caught up to his players.
‘You are obviously not in a great shape and I have no nerves for you,’ Klopp fumed as he walked past the reporter and left the interview.
Now, Fredericksen has detailed what exactly happened after the interview was cut short.
A furious Jurgen Klopp stormed out of a post-match interview with Norwegian TV following Liverpool’s dramatic 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final defeat against Man United at Old Trafford
Klopp seemingly took umbrage at a question which criticised his side’s intensity in extra time
Klopp hit out at the Norwegian reporter for asking a ‘dumb’ and ‘really disappointing’ question – and the reporter, Niels Christian Fredericksen, has now detailed what happened off camera
‘I was very surprised by it,’ he told Danish outlet Tipsbladet, ‘and the people standing around were scared, and they were almost pressed up against the wall like: “wow, what the hell just happened here?”
‘It continued after what you saw on the TV. He continued down the corridor, shouting and screaming at me. I went after him too, because I thought it was a strange thing.’
He added: ‘I was very surprised, while some people looked very shocked, and they asked: “Are you OK?” and damn it, I’m OK.’
Emotions were evidently high for Klopp given defeat spoiled any chance of him completing a famous quadruple in his final season in charge of Liverpool.
Fredericksen revealed that Klopp ‘scared’ bystanders by ‘shouting’ as he went down the hall
After being asked about his side’s intensity dropping in extra time, Klopp fumed: ‘That’s a bit of a dumb question.
‘If you see us often, you can ask us the other times why we have so much energy.
‘I don’t know how many games we’ve had recently and how many Manchester United have had. That’s sport.
‘I’m really disappointed about that question, but you thought obviously it’s good.’
Extended footage emerged on Monday morning of the tense face-off.
Klopp told the reporter ‘you’re obviously not in great shape’ before storming off and footage of the aftermath shows how their exchange carried on.
‘Such a question you’re talking about… what is wrong with you? What did you want now?’ Klopp asks after barging past Frederiksen.
Standing his ground, the journalist asks: ‘How come you’re so provocative?’
But Klopp had already left the broadcast position, leaving the reporter standing as the camera continued to record. He also appeared to make a grab for the microphone before walking off.
Liverpool twice led, but ended up on the wrong side of the tie after a dramatic 120 minutes
Klopp bemoaned his side’s profligacy in front of goal at his post-match press conference
Much was made of Klopp’s remark that Fredericksen is ‘not in great shape’ but the reporter, who has interviewed Klopp many times before, insisted that that was simply a misunderstanding and not a fat jibe as many had interpreted.
‘No, no, no, no, that’s not what he meant at all,’ Fredericksen added. ‘Firstly, I’m not overweight, and if I was, he would never, ever say that. Klopp is not like that.
‘It wasn’t meant like that at all. He’s not obnoxious at all. He thought I was incapable and unfit to ask questions. There was none of that other stuff.’
More to follow.
