Gabriel Agbonlahor has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. The former Premier League striker went in hard on Manchester United after our 4-0 defeat against Brentford last week and labelled Bruno Fernandes a bad team-mate.
Agbonlahor, who played for Aston Villa, received criticism from Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for the way in which he slammed United. The German admitted he nearly called talkSPORT to have it out with the retired footballer turned pundit.
He labeled our players ‘amateurs’ and Klopp felt that was below the belt – ultimately underestimating how difficult it can be to play against Thomas Frank’s Brentford side.
“Mate, I woke up and I’ve never seen my phone blow up as much as it was,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT. “I was like ‘what’s happened?’, ‘Jurgen Klopp has done this’.
“When I’ve seen it and I’ve seen the clip, I’m thinking ‘come on Jurgen’. It’s a bit too much, isn’t it?
“It’s great for the show that he’s listening to our show, all managers should be.
“For me, I’ve got bosses at talkSPORT who I answer to. If my reaction to Manchester United being 4-0 down was too much then I’m sure I’d have heard about that.
“I don’t need Jurgen Klopp telling me how to be a pundit, he should concentrate on being a manager.
“He wouldn’t take advice on being a coach from me, would he? So I’m not going to take advice from him.
“It’s all settled now though. Simon Jordan sorted him out for me – my good friend Simon, I owe him a drink.
“It’s very strange but Jurgen, if you’re listening, I’m available for a chat any time. We’ll catch up in Liverpool and have a drink, no problem!”
❌ “I don’t need Jurgen Klopp to tell me how to be a pundit.”
💬 “Jurgen, if you’re listening… I’m available anytime, let’s catch up.”@Ga11Agbon responds to Jurgen Klopp after Klopp’s press conference comments pic.twitter.com/6khq6mF5im
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) August 20, 2022
Boo-hoo! Is Agbonlahor really seeking sympathy after calling someone he doesn’t know a bad teammate?
Manchester United take on Liverpool tonight in the Premier League, with both teams looking for their first win of the 2022/23 season.
SN verdict
I’m sure Agbonlahor’s bosses at talkSPORT were delighted with his outburst last week. It got Klopp as well as Bruno Fernandes talking and they got all the clicks and engagements they want, which is why they hire mouthpieces like Agbonlahor.
I don’t think Klopp was defending United either. He simply understands how difficult the Premier League can be and probably sees a new manager coming into a caldron, so bizarre comments may come as an attack to all coaches at the top.
Ten Hag has a tricky task to turn things around at Old Trafford and the standards in the Premier League can’t be matched elsewhere at the moment.
Agbonlahor’s comments need to be taken with a pinch of salt.
