Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that he regrets making comments criticising Tottenham Hotspur’s defensive style at Anfield during their 1-1 draw on Saturday night, blaming it on his frustration at two dropped points.
After Spurs drew 1-1 against Liverpool on Saturday to put a major dent in their title hopes, a frustrated Klopp aimed a dig at the type of football they played under Antonio Conte.
Conte organised his team superbly and Tottenham came away with a deserved point despite having only 35 per cent of the possession on Merseyside.
Klopp said: “I don’t like this kind of football. I think they’re world-class, and I think they should do more for the game. They play a world-class team, they sit back. They drew against us now, they won against [Manchester] City. So the game plan works for these games but they’re still fifth, so that’s how it is.”
But the Liverpool boss has now backtracked on those comments and insisted he has total respect for Conte, the job he is doing at Spurs and his approach.
Speaking on Monday, Klopp was asked about claims from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola that everyone else in the country wants Liverpool to beat them to the title.
And the German said: “As managers, and I had this experience recently, after a game we are obviously… we are massively influenced by the game, the situation and stuff like this.
“Would I say it again? No. I said after the game, ‘They play like they play and are still only fifth’. It felt good in that moment but anyway [it was] wrong.
“But it was just my feeling in that moment. I could not respect Antonio more, what he is doing and how he organises teams.”