Arne Slot looked like a boy in the naughty step after misbehavior in a classroom.
He knows the punishment for his actions after the poorly honored Merseyside Derby might be more serious than writing lines in detention but his press conference on Friday was in fact the Liverpool manager who repeated the same mantra: I will not respect referees again.
Slot had a slight controversy on these coasts for the first time to deal with. Nothing important, but it felt more headline-grabbing than his usual Friday audience when he was pushed by the fact that he lost his patience in Goodison Park.
Everything has been so swimming for the end that the media sometimes no longer have things to raise him. After victory in all competitions, rarely even an injury to contend with and a transition from Jurgen Klopp more smoothly than any Reds fan could have imagined.
After having worked next to Slot's Liverpool for six months, it is clear that he is an elite coach, but above all a really nice guy. Losing his cool for five minutes does nothing change that – nor was it a case of a 'mask slipping' – but it offers an intriguing look in one side of him that has not yet been seen.
Tales from first-hand from the dressing room this season included voices and frustrations of the Liverpool manager, but his anger towards officials in Everton was the first public observation of Slot's agitated side.
“The emotions have improved me,” he said. 'If I could do that differently, I would like that. I hope to do it differently next time. What happened was that the extra five minutes were eight.
'We are in a company that is quite emotional. I am the type of manager who would like to check as much as possible as I can … So if my player makes a wrong decision, I blame myself for thinking that I can influence that.
'But there is a part that you cannot influence, and that is especially the most difficult thing, if you have no influence at all and then you become emotional, as I did. The best thing I could have done was just walking in, but unfortunately I didn't. '
Asked if he hopes that he will respond differently next time the next time that things will not go the way of Liverpool, he added: 'I hope, but I can't promise it. I am a human. I was not going to respond as I did after the game.
'But these seven or eight minutes extra time, if you just look back, so many incidents have happened that I became too emotional. Instead of going inside, calming down and then talking to the referee, I walked on the field, which was not the smartest to do afterwards. '
As detailed by Mail Sport, his actions can mean that he has to watch a few games from the stands. That will not be a problem for Slot, who was in the press box at St Mary's earlier this season alongside analyst Roderick van der Ham to supervise a victory.
It is quite ironic that Slot had asked his players for 'cool heads' before the Merseyside Derby and eventually the one who came out of his metaphorical steam – but this does not mean that he is one to regularly lose his control.
As football fans you all know what it feels like when you perceive an injustice against your team. Many would act the same, if not worse.
Indeed, this was the first known perception of Slot in such a way. Dutch sources pointed to an incident at FC Twente when Robin Propper, now at Rangers, encouraged the then Feyenoerbaas to act in anger because he kicked the ball away.
But the anecdotes about similar incidents were little in between.
David Moyes also has his sympathies for Slot and the Everton -Baas said: 'I feel a bit for Arne, because when I was a younger manager, I always became involved in heated things. It tells me that he cares a lot about his team.
“I have had enough moments that I am not proud of, but we all have to fight against our corner.”
Slot said on his opposite song on MerseSide: 'I have to honor David Moyes. Since he came in, he has done a great job and made it so difficult game for us. '
After the Pitch Melees and emotionally charged scenes on the touchline, Niceties were exchanged late. Slot's only only goodison park experience ended because he lost his cool – but his calm and collected attitude is already back when Liverpool goes for the title.
In the meantime, both Merseyside clubs have suffered injuries in the poorly suspended luminaire. Cody Gakpo is a doubt for Liverpool's game with wolves because of a foot injury, while Iverton's Iliman Ndiaye has sustained medial ligament damage and will be off for an important period.
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