Szoboszlai apologizes

Dominik Szoboszlai said Monday that he apologized to Liverpool supporters after his gestures toward the away end at Manchester City were “a misunderstanding.” (independent.co.uk) The Hungary midfielder was filmed after Liverpool’s 4-0 Football Association Cup quarter-final defeat at the Etihad Stadium shrugging, raising his arms and clapping toward fans who had stayed to the end. Teammate Federico Chiesa then led him away as boos came from the away section. (independent.co.uk) Szoboszlai said he “didn’t mean it in a bad way” and added, “If it was a misunderstanding then I apologise.” He also said, “I’m not feeling better than them, I feel exactly the same as they do.” (independent.co.uk) The exchange landed in the middle of a rough week for Liverpool. Manchester City beat Liverpool 4-0 on April 4 to reach the Football Association Cup semi-finals, with Erling Haaland scoring a hat trick at the Etihad. (channelnewsasia.com) Four days later, Liverpool lost 2-0 at Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Union of European Football Associations Champions League quarter-final. Liverpool’s own match report said Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in Paris. (liverpoolfc.com) Before the City match, Szoboszlai had already given a blunt assessment of Liverpool’s display. He told TNT Sports that “the fighting spirit wasn’t there enough” and “the mentality wasn’t there enough,” according to a report from This Is Anfield. (thisisanfield.com) Liverpool beat Fulham 2-0 at Anfield on April 11, and manager Arne Slot said the result lifted the mood before the second leg against Paris Saint-Germain. Reuters reported that Slot called it only “a first step” in a defining week. (thestar.com.my) Szoboszlai’s apology came at that pre-match news conference on April 13, with Liverpool trying to turn the focus back to Anfield and the return leg against Paris Saint-Germain. His message to supporters was that he and the fans “feel exactly the same.” (independent.co.uk)