Jurgen Klopp spoke at his press conference today about the attack which saw Irishman Sean Cox put in an induced coma outside Anfield stadium, hours before their Champions League semi-final first leg with Roma.
The 50-year-old, who wore a Liver bird pin painted in the Irish tricolour, was noticeably sombre throughout the press conference and struggled to put into words his reaction to the unprovoked assault:
I think the game on Tuesday night showed the beauty of the game, during the game... and the most ugly face of parts of the game, before the game. When I first heard about it, I cannot describe my emotions in English to be honest... it's how I feel still. That should never have happened, it should never happen before it should never happen in the future and we all have to do everything to make sure that things like that will not happen anymore.
It's unbelievable that something like this can happen. You can imagine our thoughts and prayers are with Sean at this moment and his family of course.
Klopp also had his say on the rumours that current Liverpool U18 manager Steven Gerrard is set to become manager of Rangers. The German said that Gerrard 'has a decision to make' and that the club would support him if he decided to leave his position:
I'm not worried. Steven was, and is, a legend. Whatever he wants to. do. Nobody told me anything about it, any decision. I can imagine clubs are interested in signing Stevie. I would think about him as well if I owned a club!
Asked about fears for Liverpool fans traveling to Rome, Klopp reiterated that 'it's only a game' and pleased for responsibility:
I've never experienced something like that. But how I see it, it's all about football and it's ONLY football. I never understood people who don't understand that. I hope everybody involved in safety does their best. I ask for responsibility.
When asked about how Liverpool fans traveling to Rome should conduct themselves in the wake of the Sean Cox attack, Klopp's message was simple: "It's common sense. What can I say that they don't already know?! Behave. It's easy to say, behave".
