Gary Neville has hit back at suggestions that he and Jamie Carragher bullied Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius, saying that the player himself is responsible for the media storm that ensued.
Karius was dropped by Klopp for Liverpool's victory over Middlesbrough in midweek following a difficult couple of weeks when he was criticised by Neville and Carragher for mistakes he made against Bournemouth and West Ham.
An interview with Karius was published in which he aimed a dig at Neville, with Carragher responding angrily by telling him 'to shut his mouth' and focus on his football.
Gary Neville defended his comments about Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius on the @SundaySupp https://t.co/yyggA8ff1K pic.twitter.com/tTVBj8abrE
While Klopp was quick to come to the defence of his goalkeeper, who has been scrutinised following his arrival from Mainz in the summer, the German coach has taken the 23-year-old out of the firing line by reinstalling Simon Mignolet into the starting line-up. The Belgian is expected to retain his spot in goal for the Merseyside derby on Monday night.
He (Karius) can have a dig at me for the next six months,� Neville said while appearing on Sky Sports' Sunday Supplement programme. I would always say to a player going into an interview ˜what is going to help you win games, what is going to make you play better?'
The fact he took on the interview is fine but did it actually help him? Did Jurgen Klopp's interview help him?
From my point of view, calling it bullying young players is absolutely ridiculous.I was critical of David de Gea a few years ago and he's gone on to prove me wrong through silence and good performances.
There was nothing personal against Karius, it was an observation. At the time, the statement ˜he transmits anxiety to his team-mates and around the stadium' was correct.�
Neville went on to say that Liverpool and Karius - who took it upon himself to respond to Neville during his interview - were the reason for the story dominating the back pages.
It became a big story because the player, coach and Liverpool added fuel to a fire that wasn't there.
Two weeks ago (on Super Sunday) my most critical comments were about a United and an Everton player. No one will remember what my comments were because Manchester United and Everton never reacted to it, the players never reacted to it and they were forgotten about.
I called Marouane Fellaini pathetic and idiotic and I battered Maarten Stekelenburg for his part in Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goal.
"It was a story that grew and mushroomed out of nothing."
SS1 now or here: https://t.co/l49HlvBslM https://t.co/UCEejbXDch
I said Karius transmitted anxiety and nervousness to his team-mates. The other two stories have disappeared to the point at which no one can remember them, that's how I would expect press departments of football clubs to deal with these things.
Once Karius did his newspaper interview I knew he would be out of the team in four or five days, I knew he brought pressure upon himself.
I always say young players should always do interviews. Me saying, ˜stay clear of the situation', which was my advice to Karius after doing the interview - and also Phil Neville and Jamie Carragher saying ˜shut your gob', we weren't actually talking as pundits.
From our point of view as pundits, we've done our job. We created the debate. I'd say we were more guiding him as an ex player or a coach, saying ˜this is not a fight for now'.�