Pep Guardiola claimed he remains in football due to managers like Jurgen Klopp while also praising the Anfield atmosphere.
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have held a strong rivalry in the Premier League for the better part of five years. Their teams have often gone head to head in some interesting games in the Premier League and the Champions League.
The Catalan has achieved unprecedented success domestically; Klopp has gone a level above by winning the Champions League during his tenure as Liverpool boss. As rivalry remains bitter on the pitch, there exists a soft side to their understanding of each other.
Liverpool host Manchester City in this weekend’s blockbuster Premier League clash as both managers will take on each other for the first time this season. Guardiola’s side beat Chelsea to close the gap to the Reds at the top, and with a win on Sunday, they could be level on points at the end of this game week.
Guardiola has revealed something more positive in the build-up to this game. He claimed that he remains in the football business because of the presence of managers such as Klopp. Pundit Arena posted some comments from the Catalan as he opened up on his rivalry with the Liverpool boss while also praising the atmosphere of Anfield.
Guardiola said, “That’s the reason I’m still in this business. Some managers and Jurgen is one of them, challenge you to make a step forward.”
The Manchester City manager also spoke about the atmosphere at Anfield and his team’s record at Liverpool’s home ground. “I’m very pleased Anfield is full again, and we can go there to play a game. It’s nice that the people are back and we can enjoy a fantastic atmosphere there. Hopefully, we can handle it in a good way,” he said.
“I don’t know the reasons why we didn’t win at Anfield over the 18 years. Over my five years, it was because they are an exceptional team.”
All said and done, Manchester City are winless against Liverpool at Anfield for 18 years now, and Guardiola would be hoping to change this narrative on Sunday. A win for the Catalan will surely spice up an already exciting looking Premier League season. This admiration from the City boss will surely evaporate when the teams take the field.
