Sports
Revealed: What really happened between Jurgen Klopp and Xherdan Shaqiri immediate aftermath of Liverpool’s loss to Chelsea
Jurgen Klopp was left furious with Xherdan Shaqiri at full-time following Liverpool’s defeat to Chelsea and was spotted shouting at the winger on the pitch.
The German was clearly agitated by something his summer signing had done and angrily gestured at the Swiss ace.
To add further fuel to Klopp’s rage, Eden Hazard had struck an awesome winner just moments earlier as Chelsea came from a goal down to knock Liverpool out of the Carabao Cup.
Klopp’s actions were spotted by many viewers who took to Twitter asking why he was so angry.
The Liverpool boss soon explained his actions in his post-match press conference.
Klopp revealed he was angry because Shaqiri let Jordan Hendseron take a free-kick in a threatening position in the last minute of the game.
The 28-year-old attempted to dink the ball over the wall for his team-mates to attack but ended up over-hitting the set-piece and wasting Liverpool’s last chance of the game.
The Liverpool boss wanted Shaqiri to take the free-kick so he could play in Mohamed Salah from wide and was left incensed by his decision making.
Klopp’s exchange with the 26-year-old ended in a particularly frosty manner.
What Klopp said to Xherdan Shaqiri after Liverpool’s Carabao Cup exit
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed his disagreement with Xherdan Shaqiri was over a late free-kick.
Liverpool were dumped out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night after a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Anfield.
After the final whistle, TV cameras showed a visibly frustrated Klopp disagreeing with Shaqiri on the pitch, reports the Liverpool Echo.
And the Reds boss has revealed he was discussing an injury-time free-kick he believed could have been played differently as his side pressed for an equaliser.
“I spoke about a free-kick – the last one,” said Klopp. “Mo was standing wide and a whole bunch of players were in one the direction where we shot the ball.
“If he could have played in Mo on a one-on-one situation in the last minute of the game it would have been not too bad. It was only about the free-kick, nothing else.
“But at 1-0, Shaq was completely alone in the box and maybe you will have to ask him why he didn’t shoot in that situation.”
After a poor first-half display, Liverpool – sporting eight changes from the team that beat Southampton at the weekend – went ahead through Daniel Sturridge’s 58th-minute volley.
Sturridge had earlier missed a glorious chance, and the Reds were made to pay for other spurned opportunities when Emerson and substitute Eden Hazard struck for Chelsea in the final 11 minutes.
“We had the chances, of course,” said Klopp. “It was a difficult game for both sides, for us unfortunately because I have said before we have a specific style of play and you need to get used to it.
“Minute by minute, we get more used to it. Even at the start when we left too many spaces and they could play between the lines, we already had bigger chances.
“We weren’t really a big threat but the more and we got used to it, the first half was good. The second half started well, we scored the goal and could have scored before.
“We played much calmer football which we could have done first half. Against such a dominant side like Chelsea, in the moment you have then ball then you need to dominate them.”
Summer signing Fabinho made his full Liverpool debut, while Simon Mignolet, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne were all handed their first starts of the campaign.
And Klopp said: “We had five players on the pitch with their first start of the whole season. I am really happy that they had the game now they are really back.
They got the rhythm in the game. We learned during the game and controlled it much better.
“We were 1-0 up, could have scored a second, hit the crossbar, but then they scored the goal after the free-kick which was unlucky as the foul and the goal weren’t clear.
“(After the equaliser) Chelsea had the momentum in the game but I don’t think we showed a bad reaction.
“But then Eden Hazard came in and scored a wonderful goal. Hazard was on the run but of course we could have defended it better.
“It was really quick and in the box, Eden Hazard, full speed, it’s not easy. That’s how it is and we didn’t have enough time to strike back.”
Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Gini Wijnaldum and Andy Robertson were not in the matchday squad and Klopp said: “A couple of the players who were not involved are not 100% fit.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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