Pep Guardiola Surprised Klopp Left Anfield: I'll Miss Him

Pep Guardiola will miss the competition with Jurgen Klopp (Instagram/@petteam).

JAKARTA - Pep Guardiola broke the silence over the surprise departure of Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp from Anfield at the end of this season.

The Manchester City manager has great respect for his rivals. He claims he will sleep better next season without Klopp's presence after resigning at Liverpool.

You see, Klopp is a strong competitor to Guardiola, especially on British soil. The Spaniard even called City and Liverpool's fight the greatest competition in the modern era of the Premier League.

"Of course I will miss him. It was a surprise, like what happened to everyone."

"We will lose something. We cannot determine our period here without him, without Liverpool. It is impossible," Guardiola said at The Sun.

Guardiola further said that Jurgen Klopp was the toughest rival in his coaching career. They didn't just meet in England.

Previously, the two of them often clashed when they were both still in charge of the Bundesliga team.

"He's been the best rival I've ever had in my life."

"While he was in Dortmund and I was still at Bayern (Munchen), then here (England). I think the Premier League will miss him, his charisma, his personality, and especially his team's way of playing," he said again.

Meanwhile, it is not clear where Jurgen Klopp will dock next season. Even so, Guardiola believes Klopp will still return to the field.

"Of course I wish him all the best. He won't admit it (where he went), but he will come back, I know that. Maybe within ten years, I don't know."

"He said carefully that he needed to fill his energy. With his personality, with his energy, he would return, the national team, other teams, I don't know."

"I think football needs a personality and manager like him," said the 53-year-old coach.

Despite that, Guardiola hinted that he would not follow in Klopp's footsteps and resign to restore his energy.

The former Barcelona manager even expressed his intention to extend his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

"I'm fine. I still have one more year. I want to do it and maybe extend it. So, I'm fine," he said.

Jurgen Klopp shocked the world of football on Friday, January 26, 2024, by announcing his resignation from Liverpool at the end of this season after nine years at Anfield full of trophies.