Jordan Henderson has jokingly been labelled as a ‘troublemaker’ by legendary German official Dr Felix Brych.
Brych is now a UEFA ambassador for Munich following a glittering career where he officiated at some of the world football’s biggest occasions.
The 48-year-old, who is still an active referee, officiated at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups as well as the 2014 Europa League final and the 2017 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool in Kyiv.
Ex-Reds skipper Henderson was involved in that clash, with Brych revealing that the Ajax star was one of the most difficult players to deal with.
“I got along with all the players very well, but in every game there was always my troublemaker,” Brych told talkSPORT.
“Looking back on many games at Anfield with Liverpool, when I saw Jordan Henderson, I knew I had to keep an eye on him.
“He was talking all throughout the game. Also, James Milner. Sometimes he was quiet, sometimes he was talking a lot and like you do, you talk in a different way.
“In Germany, talking is much more aggressive. In England you talk in a different way, I knew that before the game.”
When quizzed on what Henderson would say to him, Brych said: “’Come on it’s not a foul, you can do it in Germany, but in England we want to let the game flow.'”
The German continued: “It was always this kind of trash talk, but I liked it and I got used to it. It was fun and games.”
Brych also lifted the lid on his relationships with managers during his officiating career.
One boss he shared a good relationship with was ex-Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, which dates back to Klopp’s time in the Bundesliga.
He remarked: “I met Jurgen Klopp in Germany 20 years ago, but in England it was a different relationship with him.
“If you know someone better than the others, they think you might favour them. I cannot give any kind of bonus to anybody.”
However, Brych admits finding some managers more difficult than others, but he enjoyed the challenge of keeping them in order.
“Jose Mourinho was tricky,” he stated. “You always had to keep an eye on him. At some points he did things you would never expect.
“Also, the same with [Diego] Simeone, they always had some different plans but I always liked the challenge.”
When asked what attributes made him become one of Europe’s top referees, Brych revealed: “I have the right feeling for the right moment.
“Sometimes you have to be strict sometimes you have to let things flow, especially when I’m in England they like it to flow.
“In Spain, Italy and in Bundesliga games it’s different. I wasn’t that popular, but I was successful and appointed in big games again and again.”
News Summary:
- ‘Always my troublemaker’ – Top German referee names Liverpool legend as one of most difficult to deal with
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