Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has slammed former Aston Villa player and pundit Gabby Agbonlahor for taking a dig at Manchester United.
The situation at Old Trafford has generated concerns among fans and football pundits alike. Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor took a dig at Manchester United when the club lost their second Premier League match 4-0 to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Addressing Man United’s performance on TalkSport, Agbonlahor described Manchester United as a team in shambles and an “amateur.” He dismissed some Man United players like Christian Eriksen, David de Gea, and Lisandro Martinez as flops and “not good enough.”
Jurgen Klopp slammed Agbonlahor for being harsh on the team, saying he had nearly placed a phone call to disagree with him.
Agbonlahor criticized the players, Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag and the entire team after the Red Devils were smashed 4-0 in the first 35 minutes of the game. Da Silva, Jensen, Mee, and Mbeumo completed the route for the merciless bees, who actually stung the rickety Man United team. The former Aston Villa forward did not mince words as he lashed at Man United for such an abysmal performance.
“If I was them [United] now after this game I’d be thinking, ‘You know what, Ten Hag, just pack up. He’s had pre-season and they have started the season as a shambles, they’re like strangers on the pitch, ” Agbonlahor commented on TalkSport.
The Premier League star turned pundit jumped on some players after slamming the team and Erik Ten Hag.
“They’re just not good enough, [David] De Gea must know that [Christian] Eriksen has got a man behind him, use your brain and you don’t give it to him, Man City wouldn’t even give it to Rodri in that position,” he said.
Making reference to a former Man United star and pundit, Agbonlahor said if he were Gary Neville at Sky Sports, he would backed off from running commentary on the match and would have declared that the match is over after 35 minutes.
“If I was Gary Neville now at half-time [commentating for Sky Sports] I’d throw the white towel in and say, ‘Alright, it’s 4-0, I can’t take any more. They’re not United, they’re divided, none of them are working for each other. Look at them, they’re like strangers on the pitch”, he added.
Jurgen Klopp Defends Manchester United
Jurgen Klopp has refuted Agbonlahor while speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s Monday Night fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Klopp says Manchester United is a difficult team to play against any time as they boast of top and quality players. He cited the 4-0 pre-season loss to Ten Hag in which the Reds were caught unawares by a classic and quality Man United squad.
“We were not ready for our game in pre-season. The quality they have up front is ridiculous, the quality in midfield – whoever lines up – whether it’s Eriksen, Fernandes, Van de Beek, or Fred. Donny I think is a really good player. And then there’s McTominay as well”, the German said.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager said that two Premier League games are not enough to draw sweeping conclusions on a team, with Liverpool yet to win a game.
“That’s your words [that United had a bad start to the season]. I would prefer to play United after they won 5-0. We drew two games so is that just as bad, is it worse? I don’t know”, the coach wondered.
Klopp defended Ten Hag’s Man United rebuild, saying it may take time and it is not easy.
“You have to rebuild and change a lot of things and that’s not easy”, the coach noted.
🗣 "I listened to Gabby Agbonlahor, he lost against us 6-0 in my first year, I couldn't remember him as a mentality monster on the pitch."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) August 19, 2022
Jurgen Klopp reveals he was close to calling in to @talkSPORT after listening to the post-match reaction to Man United's loss to Brentford pic.twitter.com/zNlfB6UXsV
Manchester United defeated Liverpool 4-0 in their preseason friendly. Surprisingly, a high-flying preseason squad has nosedive leaving a disorganized and formless squad that has lost two openings in Premier League matches to underrated teams.
The Red Devils face Liverpool in their next match. The club will be expected to bounce back to appease disgruntled fans. It will be a dicey game, as Liverpool are also searching for their first win after two matches.
