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Liverpool stars Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong have clarified what appeared to be a heated exchange between the duo earlier this year.
The pair both departed Bayer Leverkusen for Anfield this summer. They've brought their strong bond to Merseyside, which developed during their five campaigns as colleagues in Germany. However, one incident in March seemed to display a tense confrontation between the teammates.
Leverkusen was trailing 3-0 with a red card against rivals Bayern Munich in the final moments of their Champions League last-16 first-leg encounter. Key players Wirtz and Frimpong had both been withdrawn and were seated on the substitutes' bench when TV cameras captured them both gesturing frantically during their discussion.
Neither soccer player restrained their disappointment as they seemed to voice concerns about their team's display, while numerous spectators and even some media outlets assumed the duo were engaged in a very public disagreement.
However, the now-Liverpool players have explained that they weren't quarrelling but were actually in agreement about something that had gone awry on the field.
They were presented with the footage in a fresh video for Liverpool's official YouTube channel, entitled 'Bezzies', during the Reds' ongoing tour of Asia.
Upon viewing the clip, Wirtz instantly remarked: "This is wrong! People got it wrong."
Frimpong added: "We were actually on the same side. I saw this on social media."
The German playmaker then interjected: "They got it wrong. We were down against Bayern in the Champions League, and then the head starts [getting frustrated]."
Wirtz, 22, and Frimpong, 24, also discussed how their friendship first blossomed at Leverkusen. Frimpong began by saying: "The first time I met Flo was in the Bayer Leverkusen changing room. Obviously I knew who he was before from watching him.
"When he sat next to me we just started speaking. He was the first one that made me feel comfortable. Then obviously I started going to his house, we started to chill, and we became friends."
Wirtz added: "For me it's easy [to be friends] because Jeremie is a guy everybody loves. He's funny and always in a good mood, so of course I'm one of the guys who likes him."
The pair both emerged as crucial figures for the Bundesliga outfit after Xabi Alonso's arrival as Leverkusen's manager in October 2022.
They shone as Alonso guided the club to their maiden Bundesliga crown in 2024, achieving the feat without suffering a single loss.
Leverkusen also claimed the German Cup and was poised to complete a remarkable undefeated treble until it endured a stunning 3-0 loss in the Europa League final against Atalanta.
Leverkusen endured a tougher campaign last term, trailing Bayern by 13 points in the league to end the season empty-handed.
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