Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool apologise after hooligan fans smashed Man City team coach
Reds supporters threw bottles and flares at City coach as it arrived at Anfield in disgraceful scenes ahead of Champions League quarter-final
JURGEN KLOPP and Liverpool have been forced to apologise after hooligans from their own supporters smashed up the Manchester City team coach.
Fans launched bottles, cans and smoke bombs at the bus as Pep Guardiola’s side arrived at Anfield for their Champions League quarter-final.
Windows were shattered and smoked seeped inside affecting the players and staff as they pulled into the stadium after thousands had lined the streets to give them a hostile welcome.
City have been forced to search for a replacement vehicle after their coach was written off, and Uefa officials took photos of the damage as they launched an investigation.
The actions of the fans left Reds boss Klopp having to say sorry to his opponents just minutes before the match was due to start.
Klopp said: “I really don’t understand it. We tried everything to avoid a situation like that.
“When we came here we had to take a different way as well. When we came through it was very positive but we didn’t know on the bus that that had happened before.
“For Liverpool FC I have to say sorry about that.”
RED WALL Man City coach smashed up by Liverpool fans throwing bottles and flares
And Liverpool were quick to issue a stern statement condemning the actions of the mindless idiots who allowed themselves to be carried away despite appeals to behave.
The club statement said: “The club condemns in the strongest possible terms the scenes which preceded our Champions League quarter-final, which resulted in damage being inflicted on the Manchester City team bus during their arrival at Anfield.
“We apologise unreservedly to Pep Guardiola, his players, staff and officials caught up in the incident.
“The behaviour of a number of individuals was completely unacceptable and the club will cooperate fully with the authorities to identify those responsible.
“The priority now is to establish the facts and offer Manchester City whatever support is necessary.”
City boss Guardiola welcomed the Klopp comments, but questioned why police didn’t do more to prevent the situation getting out of control.
Guardiola said: “Thank you to Jurgen for his words.
“I didn’t expect that, we didn’t expect that after what happened last season in Dortmund. I didn’t expect to get asked about it yesterday in the press conference.
“I thought police can know that but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
“Nothing happened to our players in terms of health.
“I know that’s not Liverpool, I know the history of the club is much bigger than this. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.”
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard blasted: “I’m all for a hostile reception and putting pressure on opposition teams – I think we all like that as part of European football – but no, we don’t like to see that.”