Jurgen Klopp hails Pep Guardiola as the "best manager in the world"

Liverpool are seven points behind the Champions League qualification places ahead of their re-arranged trip to Old Trafford.

Jurgen Klopp (L) seen with Pep Guardiola in a file photo. (Image Credit: Twitter)
By Arnab Mukherji | May 12, 2021 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola while interacting with the media ahead of the Premier League encounter against Manchester United. United were recently defeated 2-1 by Leicester City, in the team’s second match of three in five days. That result confirmed Manchester City as champions for the 2020-21 season of the Premier League. Klopp offered his congratulations, adding that he sent a text message to Guardiola and former player Ilkay Gundogan.

“Great achievement, congratulations. I texted Pep last night, already texted Ilkay [Gundogan] obviously. Really, well done. A very difficult year for the whole world, for all football teams as well; what they achieved so far in this year is exceptional. Having won the title in the past now, five in 10 years,” he said.

“When you bring together financial sources and football knowledge, you have a good chance to create something special and that’s obviously the case. City have an incredible squad and the best manager in the world, so that makes it a good recipe, I would say,” added Klopp.

“Always a joy to play against them”

The Liverpool manager further termed it a joy to play against the Cityzens, considering the massive challenge from a football point of view.

“It’s always a joy to play against them because it’s just a massive challenge from a football point of view. [You] can beat them but you have to be at your absolute top to do so. We could do that from time to time, but this year obviously not. So, well deserved, congratulations,” stated Klopp.

The German manager said that he will not be looking to bring about a change in approach, despite the necessity for his side to win all their remaining fixtures to have a chance of finishing in the top 4.

“Our plan was to win all the football games we played this season, so we don’t change that. Do we have to take more risks in the last few minutes when it looks like a draw? That’s possible, but not planned in the moment that if it’s 0-0 we bring everybody who is a striker or used to be a striker. No, it’s just the normal way,” he said.

“If you play a football game and think only about attacking, you’ve lost before the first whistle. Especially against United with the quality they have. So, we need to make sure we are ready, like always. The situation we are in, I’m not sure but I think we are not that bad in the form table in the moment, in the last five games we should be quite OK,” concluded Klopp.





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