“He is a sore loser” - Jim Curtin on Gabriel Heinze after CCL clash

There was a heated conversion between managers after Philadelphia Union defeated Atlanta United 4-1 on aggregate in the quarterfinal of the CONCACAF Champions League. Jim Curtin from the Union and Gabriel Heinze from the Five Stripes had an exchange of words after the match on Tuesday night.

“He’s an incredible coach. He’s an incredible player, but you can still be a sore loser and be an asshole at the end of the game,” Curtin said at a virtual postgame press conference. “I still think there’s a right way. I think you should shake hands like men after the game. He’ll probably have something to say now that I’ve said that. But again, I’m not going to just sit here and take it anymore.”

Heinze not too pleased after elimination

The managers were first caught exchanging words on camera in the 72nd minute and they continued talking on the sideline after the game. Heinze was appointed as Atlanta United’s manager earlier this year and he is having a hard time adapting to Major League Soccer, so his frustration may have got the better of him after his side's elimination.

“I couldn’t talk to you enough about how I feel about this group now," Heinze said through a translator during the post-game press conference. "For many reasons. I’m not only talking about the football aspect. What I told them after the match, I prefer to keep it private.”