Maradona was there for me in tough times - Mourinho

DIEGO MARADONA: 1960-2020

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that Diego Maradona would call him after defeats, paying a warm tribute to the late Argentine great with a "big, big" heart.

The World Cup winner died from a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60.

"I spent the day today telling stories to my guys about him and the time we spent together and that's the guy I miss," Mourinho told BT Sport.

"I especially miss the phone call that was always arriving after defeats and never after victories.

"He knew that after victories I don't need phone calls, he knew that in difficult moments he was always there and he was always saying after defeats and in difficult moments 'Mo, don't forget you are the best'.

"It was always with this kind of approach, so I miss Diego."

The Spurs boss said those who had been able to spend time with Maradona had been privileged, drawing a line between the footballer and the man.

"There is Maradona and there is Diego," said Mourinho. "Maradona, I don't need to speak about because the world knows and nobody will forget.

"Diego is different. The people that are the big friends of him, the people that share dressing rooms with him, colleagues, these guys are privileged.

"I can say he was a good friend of mine, but my contacts with him were by telephone and we met of course a few times."

Mourinho said he would miss Maradona's generous larger-than-life character.

"He had a big, big, big, big heart," said Mourinho, whose side beat Ludogorets 4-0 on Thursday to move to the brink of qualification for the Europa League knockout phase.

"That's the guy I miss, because his football we can find every time we miss him, if we Google we will find it. But Diego, no."

We could have helped Maradona - Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Diego Maradona's life encapsulated the highs and lows of being a world-famous footballer as he lamented that more was not done to help the late Argentine superstar.

Maradona died on Wednesday at the age of 60 after a long struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs, sparking a huge outpouring of emotion for one of the greatest-ever players.

Klopp described his one meeting with Maradona as like "meeting the Pope", but believes the love shown after his death could have helped prevent some of his excesses.

"His life shows how nice life can be when you are a world-class footballer and how difficult it can be as well," the Liverpool boss said on Friday.

"He was a very impressive figure. I met him once which, for a player of my level, it was like meeting the Pope to be honest, it was really special.

"Football will miss him, I will miss him and you can see in the reactions all over the world if we had shown our love for him without wanting to have a selfie, just showing him the respect he deserves while he was still alive, I think we could have helped him."

Anfield fan return

Closer to home, Klopp will be able to lead Liverpool in front of their own supporters next weekend for the first time since the club ended a 30-year wait to win a league title.

Fans have been shut out of top-level matches in England since March, but a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions will allow supporters back into stadiums in some parts of England.

Liverpool and London have been placed into the Tier-2 category based on infection rates, meaning up to 2,000 fans will be able to attend matches.

But Premier League clubs based in Tier-3 areas, such as Manchester and Birmingham, are not allowed to open their gates.

If the situation improves and areas are put in Tier 1, clubs will be allowed to have up to 4,000 fans.

Klopp welcomed the return of supporters and does not believe it will give an unfair advantage to certain clubs.

"We are all really waiting for little steps in the right direction, not only in football, in all parts of life," he said. "These things with tier one, two and three is the best idea we have in the moment in this country.

"I understand why there are some discussions (saying) it will be an advantage for some clubs. I said before I knew what tier Liverpool will be in, it's not an advantage or disadvantage, it's just making small steps in the right direction."

Liverpool's clash with Wolves on December 6 will be the first match at Anfield with spectators since a Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid in March.