Guardiola says that Klopp rivalry makes him a better manager

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Pep Guardiola has today praised Jurgen Klopp in his pre-match press conference, claiming that their rivalry makes him a better manager.

The Manchester City boss was speaking to the media for the first time since his side were confirmed as this season’s Premier League champions on Tuesday evening.

Guardiola’s comments came a day after Jurgen Klopp praised the Spaniard in his own pre-game press conference, claiming that he sent a congratulatory text to the manager he called “the best in the world”.

When asked what Klopp’s message said, Guardiola responded (via Manchester Evening News): “I appreciate it a lot, him and Ancelotti.

“I don’t answer messages, not yet, but I will today. I appreciate it, I admire them.

On Klopp in particular, Guardiola said: “he makes me through his teams at Dortmund and Liverpool a better manager, to think a lot about the opponents.

“I say thank you so much and appreciate him and Carlo.”

Klopp vs Guardiola the ultimate modern-day managerial rivalry

It is clear that each of the two managers has huge respect for the other.

The rivalry between Klopp and Guardiola began when the ex-Barcelona boss took charge of Bayern Munich in 2013.

Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund side had dislodged Bayern and won back-to-back Bundesliga’s from 2010-2012. Bayern then defeated Dortmund in the 2013 Champions League final, the summer before Guardiola became manager.

While the Bavarians reasserted their dominance in the two seasons that Klopp and Guardiola were in Germany together, Dortmund remained their closest competitors.

The rivalry was re-ignited in 2016 when Guardiola joined Klopp in the Premier League.

As we know, Klopp’s Liverpool and Pep’s Manchester City have been the two best teams in the country for the last number of years.

They are the two best managers in the world. The fact that they are in the same league competing for the same titles is special.

There is lots more to come in the Klopp vs Guardiola story. Let’s hope that it is the Reds coach that has the most success in the next few chapters.