Long-time Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg (46) has in his autobiography Whistle blower reported on his experiences in football. The coaching icons Jürgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho are anything but good.
The fact that the relationship between Klopp and Clattenburg is not particularly good is nothing new. In his autobiography, to be published on September 30th, from which the Daily Mail published excerpts in advance, says Clattenburg, who was active in the Premier League for a total of 13 years, of further clashes with Klopp.
“Brilliant coach. Lousy loser,” is Clattenburg’s verdict. He met Klopp for the first time in the Champions League in April 2014. At that time, Borussia Dortmund lost the quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid 3-0. Then Clattenburg was asked for a photo by Marcelo and his wife. “It was a private photo on her phone, so I said, ‘Yeah, no problem’.” At that moment Klopp came by: “‘Oh, that’s why we got hit, wasn’t it?’ He said. He wasn’t joking and wasn’t friendly, he was sarcastic.”
However, Clattenburg reports that he had given the German against: “‘You were lucky that you only lost 3-0,’ I said. […] It annoyed me when coaches couldn’t show any greatness in defeat. “In January 2017 he met Klopp for the last time in the Premier League. He and Jordan Henderson visited him in his cabin to submit the list of the squad .
“It was bizarre, he stood there and stared at me for about 30 seconds. I just stared back,” recalls Clattenburg. “I could tell Jordan was thinking a bit, ‘What the hell is going on here?’ Did Klopp think I was stupid? I didn’t want to be bullied by him. He left and I just thought, ‘What a strange guy.’ “
Clattenburg on Jose Mourinho’s psychological tricks
Also in January 2017, Jose Mourinho visited Clattenburg after a game in his dressing room. The Portuguese accused him of whistling wrongly in a penalty decision: “He kept talking. Shut up man, ok? I picked up my shoe and smashed it against the wall next to him.” Get the fuck out of mine Locker room. Get out! ‘”
Mourinho reacted “petrified” to this outburst of anger, reports Clattenburg: “He didn’t know what to say. I was so fed up with all the ridiculous psychological tricks.” The decision to leave the Premier League had matured in him on the same day: “‘You know what’, I thought to myself: ‘I can no longer deal with such idiots’.” A little later, Clattenburg moved from England to the Saudi Arabian Association.
Clattenburg on racism allegation: Alex Ferguson called me
Clattenburg also described how he had to deal with the racism allegation from Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel. In October 2012 he was accused of calling Mikel a “monkey”, and weeks later he was acquitted. “It was terrifying. It was the Champions League winner against a referee – who would you believe?”, Said Clattenburg. “There were many tears. That could have ruined my life. Guilty until proven innocent, that’s how it works in England.”
In one dark hour, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson called him: “‘I have spoken to my players and they have not heard anything about what Chelsea are accusing you of. We don’t think you said that. I believe in fairness, therefore we will support you ‘. “
The allegations collapsed in the end, Mikel was also banned for three games for storming into Clattenburg’s cabin in a rage. “Three games? I thought the association was kidding me,” said Clattenburg. “He should have been suspended for the rest of the season, if not longer.” In the end, despite his innocence, he missed more games than Mikel.
