Klopp responded to those comments by saying, only about 50 percent of people in Liverpool support their title push.
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A war of words was exchanged between the two most decorated coaches in the Premier League. It all started with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola claiming that “everyone in this country supports Liverpool.” His remarks were made on the back of his side’s convincing 5-0 victory over Newcastle United on Sunday, which extended his side’s lead to three points at the top of the table. Reacting to those comments, Jurgen Klopp stated that not even all of Liverpool want them to win the title. He was indirectly referring to the fans of their city rivals, Everton. Considering the heated nature of the rivalry between the two Merseyside clubs, it is unlikely to expect an Everton fan to support Liverpool’s title push.
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Pep Guardiola, who is looking to guide Manchester City to their fourth Premier League title in five years, told beIN Sports, “Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone. Of course because Liverpool has an incredible history in European competition. Not in the Premier League, because they have won one in 30 years, but it is not a problem at all. The situation is what it is. We have to get nine points maybe six, it depends on the next two games in terms of goal difference. Now Wednesday is the real final for us, our destiny is in our hands and this is important, that’s the reality.”
Manchester City have two difficult away fixtures left in the Premier League. Starting with a trip to Wolves on Wednesday, they next travel to West Ham United on Sunday. “Liverpool are alongside [Manchester] United as the most important team in terms of titles, legacy, history, dramas for many, many things,” added Guardiola. “But we have since the last 11 or 12 years been there. I know sometimes we are uncomfortable, but I don’t care if the people want Liverpool to win more than us. It is not an issue.”
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Jurgen Klopp then responded to those comments by saying, only about 50 percent of people in Liverpool support their title push. The Reds’ manager also feels that Guardiola’s comments could have been made in the heat of the moment. “I live in Liverpool so, yes, here a lot of people want us to win the league, that’s true, but even here it’s probably only 50 per cent,” Klopp said in his pre-match press conference ahead of a trip to Aston Villa. “As manager, and I had this experience recently after a game (Tottenham), we are massively influenced by the game, the situation, I said – would I say it again, no – after the game ‘they play like they play and are still only fifth’. It was just my feeling in that moment and I couldn’t respect Antonio (Conte) more and what he’s doing.
“After getting knocked out the Champions League, that’s already difficult enough to take but then, of course, Liverpool made it to the final. You have these kinds of things, ‘they played Villarreal and we played Real’ and you say what you say. He’s [Guardiola] right, I was right about fifth place and Tottenham, and he was right we won the Premier League only once. I have no idea if the whole country is supporting us, it’s not the feeling I get when we go to places, it’s actually the opposite. Maybe he knows more about that than me.”
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