Derby boss names sport he'd beat Moyes at but doesn't have confidence vs Klopp
Paul Warne says he’d be whipped by Jurgen Klopp at padel tennis - but is confident he’d wipe the floor with David Moyes at badminton.
As Derby County’s boss prepared to face his second Premier League opponents this season when the Hammers arrive at Pride Park for tonight’s FA Cup Fourth Round tie, he recalled a surreal chat he had with Liverpool ’s boss during their Carabao Cup tie earlier this season.
Warne, whose Rams are on a 19-match unbeaten run, said that he discovered Klopp’s lighter side after an injury to one of his coaches forced him out onto the Anfield pitch to do the warm-ups. Klopp famously stands in the centre circle, watching his adversaries' drills. And this is where the conversation veers off-topic.
Warne said: “When I went out onto the pitch, Klopp was there. The Germans love all that. They stand there and intimidate you. They say it’s not intimidation - but it is because Klopp’s 12-feet tall. But then he comes over and said ‘Hello’ and invited me for a drink afterwards.
“I didn’t have any arguments with him during the game because, generally, I was terrified. Afterwards, I went in and we were just talking about life, I asked him what he did to look after himself. I swim and run a lot. Apparently, he plays padel.
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“He said: 'Warney, you need one of them at your training ground.’ Trouble is, I didn’t fall off the Premier League money tree - I can’t pop a padel court onto a bit of land out the back. I played it myself on holiday and I loved it. But Jurgen thinks he’s excellent. Then he said: ‘I’m one of only three people in the world who have got a sponsorship deal on my padel racquet.’
“So, I went: ‘What?’ And he said 'Yes, there’s Rafa Nadal, the world champion and me.' He turned to his assistant and said: ‘That’s true, isn’t it?’ And he nodded and I said: ‘Oh my god.’ And with that, I went: ‘Right, we’re leaving.’
David Moyes' West Ham side will be aiming to avoid an upset against Derby (AFP via Getty Images)Klopp wasn’t pulling Warne’s leg, either, he has a sponsorship deal with well-known tennis equipment manufacturer, Wilson. The conversation led Derby’s boss to wonder if tonight’s dug-out foe Moyes had a secret sporting ability that he was keeping under wraps.
But he did warn the Scot that he would need his A-game if he was to turn up and challenge him at badminton. He said: “I cannot see how David would beat me at badminton. I used to take on the players at my old club - and the new signings too.
“I’d get them in and ask: ‘Do you play badminton, at all?’ I don’t play for money. I play to embarrass them, then I’ve got them. I played Will Vaulks once who was at Sheffield Wednesday and who’s now at Cardiff. I don’t think he took a point off me. He couldn’t believe it, either.
“He was awful and I’ve absolutely hammered my assistant, Matt Hamshaw. I don’t think David could live with me on a badminton court. I’d be very surprised if he could, let’s put it like that.”
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