Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola claimed Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are the best rival he’s ever faced in his career following the German’s surprise decision to leave the Reds.
Klopp confirmed on Friday he will leave Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season to the surprise of the football world.
He has so far won seven trophies in charge at Anfield, including their first Premier League title since rebranding from the old Division One as well as their sixth Champions League.
In his nine years at Liverpool, Klopp has gone up against Guardiola’s City for several honours, and the Spaniard was full of praise for the Reds boss when first quizzed about his exit.
When asked if he will miss Klopp, Guardiola replied: “I will sleep better! The games against Liverpool have almost been a nightmare. Of course he will be missed. I was shocked like everyone. I felt listening to the news that a part of Man City will lose something.
“We cannot define our period together here without him. We cannot define our period without Liverpool. It’s impossible. They’ve been our biggest rival and personally he’s been the best rival I’ve ever had in my life.
“The Premier League are going to miss him, the charisma and his personality. And especially the way his teams play. It’s always been a pleasure to respect his approach, how positive it is no matter what. The fans are going to try to win the game. Of course, I wish him all the best. It’s always tough, but from now on Liverpool will be tougher.
“Maybe it’s my opinion, he won’t admit it, but he will be back. I know it. Maybe in 10 years’ time, I don’t know, he said he needs to recharge his energy. That’s his personality and his energy. He’ll be back at the national team, another team, somewhere, I don’t know.
“Football needs personalities like him. My dream is I hope we can have dinners together and all the drink we deserve to take.”
Guardiola has one year left to run on his contract with City, but he suggested he could sign an extension in wake of Klopp’s departure.
“You want to sack me? I’m fine,” Guardiola joked when asked if he would consider stepping down like Klopp.
“I’ve still got one more year, I want to do it, maybe I’ll extend. I’m fine. What we did [in winning the treble] last season, you want more and more? It’s not going to happen.
“What is important is just one step at a time. What I feel now is we cannot lose, otherwise Liverpool will leave [us behind in the title race]. We still have the FA Cup, you have to be close [in the Premier League], around the corner is the Champions League.”
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