It was a clear case of sour grapes on the part of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp following the match with Manchester United at Old Trafford that ended in a draw, 1-1. Klopp bemoaned the Red Devils only set out to defend during the game but Jose Mourinho, ex-manager for the Reds, saw it differently.
After the game, the German did not hold back and claimed that the clash at Old Trafford was a disappointment, chiefly because of the apparent game plan by United," per the report by Metro.
"One team set out to defend and one team made the game," Klopp declared, adding, "We didn't lose anything, it's just a point. Let's carry on."
The reaction from the German was not surprising, according to GiveMeSport.com, because it only continued his unimpressive run when visiting the United home. It's no wonder Klopp was unhappy with the result, the report added.
"He's never won a game at the Theatre of Dreams, drawing four times and losing once," the blog report said.
On this, Mourinho couldn't agree more. The former United boss is convinced that Klopp was making excuses to hide his failure to achieve a win at the storied stadium that houses the Red Devils.
The German grumbled "because he never beat Manchester United at Old Trafford."
"I think he didn't like the menu. He likes meat and he got fish, so he was not happy. They are of course much stronger playing against an opposition that gives them chances of transitions and counter attacks," Mourinho was quoted by Bleacher Report as saying.
Klopp had opined in a post-match interview that Liverpool faced an opponent with an unusually cautious game plan, but the truth is he was frustrated. Mourinho said the odds favored Liverpool, but still, Klopp failed to pick a win.
"Jurgen clearly has frustrations. It's a fantastic situation for his team. But at Old Trafford - which is a special place to win - he never did it," the Portuguese offered.
Likely adding to Klopp's frustrations is that the draw put a stop on his race to clock 18 consecutive wins in the top-level English football league. He has to accept the fact that Manchester City will remain holding that honor, and he can blame the Reds for the debacle.
Mourinho said that from the experts' point of view, it would have been an easy win for Klopp. It was clear Liverpool is on a roll while United is struggling, and the current club boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, operates with threats of getting the sack anytime.
It turned out though that the Reds came out with a good battle plan at Old Trafford.
"United, with the limitations they have at this moment, they played a different type of game. They tried to be solid at the back, they tried to not give them a chance of transition," Mourinho said.
