Wout Weghorst speaks out on Anfield sign controversy

Last Sunday was a bitter pill to swallow. Even Wout Weghorst found himself in hot water after the match.

Losing 7-0 to your arch rivals is something no fan ever wants to experience, but we quickly got over it with a bit of perspective. Manchester United already have a trophy under their belt and are on course to finish in the top four.

On top of that, we’re still in the FA Cup and Europa League. All signs that we’ve come a long way since last season.

The Liverpool defeat should at least end any title race conversation for another couple of weeks. That will allow us to focus on more achievable objectives.

As for Weghorst, he’s still trying to explain himself.

Weghorst was spotted touching the ‘This is Anfield’ sign in the tunnel, as pictured above. A gesture usually reserved for Liverpool for Liverpool fans as their own players even refrain from doing it until they have won a trophy.

Some fans got a bit excited about it – some going over-the-top with their reactions, but I don’t think it was a good move from the Dutch striker.

Weghorst has already issued a statement about touching the sign on social media, but he has added further explanation as to why he touched it. Speaking to Football Focus, he said (via Manchester Evening News):

“Of course, I know Virgil from the national team and we are quite good [friends]. With the [pre-match] handshake he was already starting the match and he was a little bit like…I can say ‘cool’, I think. And so we just in a coincidence walked [out of the tunnel] next to each other, he was a little bit in front of me and I remember he’s always touching [the Anfield sign].

“I was trying to touch his hand from behind and trying to ignore him a little bit. I said to him ‘not today, I know your rituals but it’s not working today’. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. But it was actually the only meaning I had, the only intention I had. Of course, I saw later on, we had a free day, I saw the messages from Liverpool fans, that I’ve touched it to shield myself. Normally I don’t respond on anything about this but just because the fans from United are amazing, they have been really amazing with me and for me also, I just wanted to clarify that.”

Hopefully Weghorst can make amends by scoring more goals between now and the end of the season.

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