Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has launched a stinging verbal attack on Real Madrid central defender Sergio Ramos for his actions in last season's Champions League final.
Real Madrid beat Liverpool 3-1 in the final but not before Liverpool lost top scorer Mohamed Salah, who had to leave the pitch with a dislocated shoulder after being wrestled to the ground by Ramos.
The veteran Spaniard then left Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius with a concussion after appearing to deliberately collide with him, who was to blame for two of Madrid's three goals, reports Xinhua news agency.
Until now Klopp had hardly commented about the two actions, but when asked about then in a press conference ahead of his side's International Champions Cup game against Manchester United in the US, he finally gave his opinion.
"If you watch it (the game) and you are not with Real Madrid; then you think it is ruthless and brutal," said Klopp.
"I'm not sure it is an experience we will have again; go there and put an elbow to the goalkeeper, put the goal-scorer down like a wrestler in midfield and then you win the game. That was the story of the game," continued Klopp, who says he was unimpressed by Ramos' post-game comments.
"He was like: 'Whatever, what do they want? It's normal.' No, it is not normal. If you put all of the situations of Ramos together then you will see a lot of situations with Ramos."
The Liverpool coach said he hoped the arrival of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) would mean an end to this sort of thing.
"If VAR is coming then it is a situation where you have to look again. Not to give a red card but to look again and say: 'What is that?' It was ruthless."
Klopped admitted that Liverpool were aggressive, but added that he'd "always use the word 'legal as well'".
Usually if you try something you will get punished. Someone will see it and ban you for four or five weeks. But in this example, no one. This ref should have had the courage to decide that game," he commented.
--IANS
pur/vm
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