Jamie Carragher claims he was compelled to apologize after nearly engaging a Liverpool teammate in a fight on the field.
The former vice-captain of the Reds was a notoriously volatile player for Liverpool. Never one to hold back when expressing his opinions, Carragher raised a few eyebrows during his tenure at Anfield.
However, he disturbed few people the way he infuriated Spanish right-back Alvaro Arbeloa, according to the man himself. The Liverpool veteran remembered the moment he and Arbeloa nearly “came to blows” while speaking on The Overlap today.
The 45-year-old acknowledged that there were a few occasions when he had to apologize in front of the dressing room. “I almost got into a fight with my own teammate, Arbeloa, on the field.
“After the game, I had to enter and apologize. He was moving forward far too quickly, and I needed defense!
“After the game, you say, ‘Oh it was a bit much that.’ We almost fought on the field. I tried to apologize after the game, but he sort of threw his hand, which made you lose your composure once more. However, the manager told me the next day that I had to apologize in front of the entire team. Sometimes all you can do is apologize, forget about it, and go on.
“Even if you might not always believe it, he is ultimately your manager and your boss.”
Carragher recalls the exchange with Arbeloa
Arbeloa’s departure from Liverpool not long after the incident Carragher is referencing was likely a coincidence. You can’t be certain, though, given the former center-back’s effect while he was a member of the team.
Arbeloa didn’t let it bother him, any way. After joining Real Madrid, the fullback helped Spain win the World Cup and two European Championships in addition to two Champions Leagues.
The 40-year-old has even been mentioned as a possible candidate for the management position at Madrid despite having ended his playing career.
It would be fascinating to hear Carragher’s assessment of him if he ever managed to land himself a top position or returned to the Premier League.
Rafa Benitez, the manager at the time, seemed to have put everything to rest more or less.
For this sort of thing, though, footballers have excellent recall. Arbeloa is unlikely to have forgotten his altercation with the best of Bootle.
James Milner and Virgil van Dijk recently got into a small argument at Old Trafford during the last season. Fortunately, it’s extremely uncommon to see scenes of this nature.