Jurgen Klopp’s true thoughts about Gabriel Martinelli are well known(Image: Getty)
Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has come under fire from both fans and pundits for his conduct towards injured Liverpool defender Conor Bradley late in their sides’ 0-0 draw. But the Brazilian forward was once highly praised by former Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.
The reigning champions headed to the Emirates on Thursday evening in a match that proved to be a tense affair. As the game entered added time, a long ball was launched into Liverpool’s half, which Bradley managed to clear. But in doing so the 22-year-old seemed to twist his knee after an awkward landing.
Bradley collapsed in evident pain, just barely inside the field of play. Martinelli, who had been pursuing Bradley prior to his clearance, was prevented from taking a throw-in and appeared to take umbrage at this. The Brazilian winger then dropped the ball onto Bradley before pushing him off the pitch.
This action ignited a melee between the two teams before Bradley was carried off on a stretcher. Martinelli was shown a yellow card for his behaviour, though this hasn’t stopped fans and pundits from criticising his treatment of Bradley. However, this incident comes six years after Martinelli, now 24, was lauded as a prodigious talent by former Liverpool boss Klopp.
In a thrilling Carabao Cup fourth-round tie back in 2019, Arsenal and Liverpool battled to a 5-5 draw before Klopp’s side advanced via a penalty shootout.
Martinelli netted twice in the opening period of this cup defeat whilst coming up against Sepp van den Berg, who now plies his trade at Brentford. Following the match, Klopp was full of admiration for the opposing side.
“He (Van den Berg) played an incredible game,” Klopp told Liverpool’s club website. “That’s really difficult to deal with these guys. Martinelli’s pretty much the same age but he’s a talent of the century. He’s an incredible striker, so it’s really difficult.
“Then you have Mesut Ozil around and (Joe) Willock right, who scored by the way a really nice one, so a team like Arsenal in a counter-attacking mood – we keep them deep, play around them, we lose the ball and then it’s really difficult.”
Seven years on and Martinelli has fallen out of favour with the Anfield faithful. However, current boss Arne Slot remained measured when questioned about the controversial episode.
He said: “I don’t know Gabriel Martinelli, but he comes across as a nice guy. I think the problem for him – and it’s a problem in general in football – is that there is so much time-wasting and players pretending that they are injured in the final parts of the game.”
Martinelli subsequently took to social media to express regret over his conduct towards Bradley, who appeared to sustain a significant injury. He posted on Instagram: “Conor and I have messaged and I’ve already apologised to him.
“I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment. I want to say I’m deeply sorry for the reaction. Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”
However, ex-Manchester United legend Roy Keane didn’t hold back during his Sky Sports analysis, branding Martinelli’s conduct disgraceful. He said: “It’s not good. We know football, the player is a good lad.
“Throwing the ball at him, standing over him and getting a little knee on him. He tries to force him off. That behaviour is an absolute disgrace. Not good stuff that.”