I haven’t seen the last of Klopp
Pep sure he’ll do battle with Reds boss again in future as pair gear up for epic last league showdown
PEP GUARDIOLA fears he hasn’t seen the back of his biggest rival Jurgen Klopp.
The two enemies clash in the Premier League for the last time tomorrow afternoon when Manchester City travel to Liverpool for a seismic showdown in the title race.
It will be the final time the duo lock horns at Anfield.
And while Guardiola admits he will miss the fierce competition he’s had with the German, he reckons Klopp will return to management sooner than some people think.
Guardiola spoke to Klopp in the wake of the Liverpool gaffer’s decision to stand down at the end of the season.
The Catalan said: “I respect completely his decision. I spoke with him and had the feeling that he will be back sooner or later.
“He loves football and he explained perfectly the reason why. The Premier League is the last time but maybe we will meet in the FA Cup. We will see.
“I don’t think it will be the last time. He’s young – and I’m young.”
While Guardiola has won twice as many trophies in English football as Klopp, he insists he has learned from his rival – and the challenge has driven him on.
He said: “It was always a pleasure – and it will be tomorrow as well. The way they (Liverpool) play. He doesn’t play but the way he makes his teams play football, you always learn.
“Anfield is so tough, especially the quality of the team.
“The crowd of course but especially the quality of the team. I think it will be nice, because it always has been – and we accept the challenge.”
Guardiola, who will be without injured duo Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku, was asked if his job will be made easier next season following the departure of Klopp.
But he doesn’t think it will be, irrespective of who replaces Klopp, with Arsenal emerging as genuine title contenders as well under his former assistant Mikel Arteta.
Guardiola, whose City side trail league leaders Liverpool by just one point at the top, said: “I would like it to be [easier] but I don’t think so.
“Liverpool have always been Liverpool and the contenders are there. Arsenal are already there, last season they were our biggest rivals. Look how they play because Liverpool need more than 90 minutes to win the game, Arsenal sometimes need 25 minutes to win the games.
“That’s why sometimes they are there. Tottenham will make a step forward and (Manchester) United will maybe be back.”
Guardiola has not spent much social time with Klopp down the years but is hoping to have dinner with him in the future, provided the duo can decide who picks up the bill.
He added: “In terms of lunch or dinners, it never happened. We have to decide who pays, that’s why we didn’t do it.
“I think it’s going to happen sooner or later. I would love it.”
Guardiola, meanwhile, has ordered his City stars to do their talking on the pitch – instead of rowing with rivals Liverpool off it. Erling Haaland and Trent Alexander-Arnold have found themselves embroiled in a spat in the build-up to tomorrow’s titanic showdown.
Alexander-Arnold claimed the Reds’ trophies mean more, implying City had bought their 14 trophies under Guardiola.
Striker Haaland hit back by reminding his rival City won the Treble last season.
The fall-out has lit the blue touch paper ahead of this weekend’s clash.
But Guardiola reckons Alexander-Arnold’s comments were not worth a response, and believes actions will speak louder than words come kick-off time.
Guardiola said: “I wish him (Alexander-Arnold) well. I wish him a speedy recovery, to come back to the pitch as soon as possible.
“Next question. They [his players] defend the club, not by responding to this guy but what they have done for many years on the pitch every three days. That is the best way.
“I could answer but why? It is what it is.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we have done – and I don’t need that [players defending City’s record] to feel that my players are really trying to keep doing it.
“I’m so happy with my players all the time.
“Do you think that we’re going to fight because Erling and others talk?
“We are there and we know what happened over the last years. And we are going to try again this weekend to have a good game.”
He doesn’t play but the way he makes his teams play football – you always learn
PEP GUARDIOLA ON JURGEN KLOPP