For years now they have been going against each other toe to toe. They turned foes back in the Bundesliga while Jurgen Klopp was in charge of Borussia Dortmund and Pep Guardiola was coaching Bayern Munich.
But their real rivalry undoubtedly started in the Premier League. It is in England that Guardiola and Klopp took charge of the two best teams in the country. It is here where they fought tooth and nail to beat one another.
During their time, they’ve both pushed each other to new limits. They diverging styles have resembled each other more and more. Both learning from the others wisdom.
Yesterday all of that was present in one of the most electric football games of the season. In terms of the rhythm and the pace of the game – not many can compare in recent memory.
Pep Guardiola on Jurgen Klopp
It’s hard to believe that yesterday may have been the last time the two of them come to face each other while in charge of Liverpool and Manchester City. Their rivalry in charge of those two clubs had felt everlasting.
But Klopp’s mind has been made-up. Soon someone else will have to take the mantle from him. And next season it will be someone else shaking hands with Guardiola after the game.
Speaking post-match, Guardiola was full of respect for his rival. He also predicted that the Liverpool manager will return to football even after leaving the Reds.
“He will be back! He loves the job too much. What can I say? He made us a better team, he made me a better manager. I wish he will be back soon, because football needs personalities like him,” Guardiola said as per the BBC.
Will Guardiola’s prediction come true? It’s hard to believe at this point. However, the Spaniard is probably right. Jurgen Klopp may indeed return to coach again. What we do know, and he made that clear when he made his decision – he will never return to manage in England.
What the future holds beyond that no one can really know. Not even Klopp himself.
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