Jurgen Klopp: Pep Guardiola says he will sleep better when Liverpool manager leaves - but claims German will be back

Pep Guardiola has reacted to the news Jurgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season; Guardiola and Klopp have been big rivals in Germany and England — but the Man City manager believes Klopp will return to the highest level of the game

@SamBIitz

Saturday 27 January 2024 09:28, UK

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Pep Guardiola has joked he will sleep better next season knowing Jurgen Klopp will not be a main rival — but claims the Liverpool manager will be back at the highest level soon.

Klopp made a bombshell announcement on Friday he is set to leave the club at the end of the season after eight and a half years in charge — having won every top-level competition available to him at Anfield.

Guardiola's Manchester City have still dominated the Premier League with victories in four triumphs over the last five seasons — with Liverpool's 2020 title win the only blot on the treble winners' record.

Asked if Guardiola will miss Klopp next season, the City manager replied: «I will sleep better. The games against Liverpool have almost been a nightmare. Of course he will be missed. I was shocked like everyone. I felt listening to the news that a part of Man City will lose something.

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»We cannot define our period together here without him. We cannot define our period without Liverpool. It's impossible. They've been our biggest rival and personally he's been the best rival I've ever had in my life.

«The Premier League are going to miss him, the charisma and his personality. And especially the way his teams play. It's always been a pleasure to respect his approach, how positive it is no matter what. The fans are going to try to win