Jürgen Klopp was on fire on Tuesday night after Liverpool’s defeat to Real Madrid in the first match of the Champions League quarter-finals. About the team’s performance, yes, but also about a specific call by referee Felix Brych against Sadio Mané.
The decision can be considered as one of the biggest turning points in the match. Brych chose not to call a foul on Lucas Vazquez on Mané. Mané was knocked down as he ran to a high pass, but the referee blew it off. Less than a minute later, Madrid scored their second point.
Klopp had a lot to say to Brych after the game, and then to reporters during the press conference after the game.
“I do not understand the situation with Sadio, I have to say what the judge did tonight,” he said. “For me, there was something personal. He handled Sadio’s situation, which is a clear mistake, as if it was a dive (by Mané) or whatever. It’s just not right. This is what I told him (the referee) after the game that I just thought he was unfair to Sadio. This is how it goes.
“But it does not change anything. He did not lose us the match, we were not good enough to achieve a better result. But in these moments, of course, you just need a good ref. That would have been enough. ”
The non-call and the subsequent goal resulted in a sad performance in the first half, which could not be saved in the second half.