The hug between Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola after the final whistle was long. “It was an exchange. We respect each other brutally,” said the German coach.
The spectacular 1-1 draw against England’s football champions Manchester City was the last duel between the two top coaches for the time being. Klopp will quit the Reds at the end of the season. Nevertheless, Guardiola believes in a reunion on the bench. “He will come back. He loves the job too much,” said the former Bayern coach and explained: “Football needs personalities like him.”
Manchester City won five of the last six championship titles. Mostly hunted and demanded by Klopp’s Liverpool. “He made us a better team. He made me a better coach,” emphasized Guardiola.
Four titles are still possible for Klopp
Thanks to the draw between Klopp’s team and the defending champions, Arsenal are now in first place with 64 points, level on points with Liverpool. The Cityzens follow one point behind. “We still have ten games left. Anything can happen,” said Guardiola about the three-way battle.
Klopp viewed his weakened team’s 1-1 draw against superstar Erling Haaland and Co. as a “statement” to the competition. “Arsenal won’t stop. City won’t stop. We won’t stop,” announced Klopp.
Discussion about possible penalties
Klopp had no understanding for the missed penalty in stoppage time. “Why would the guy in the VAR studio just think it’s not clear and obvious. What must they have had for lunch to think it’s not clear and obvious? Anywhere else on the pitch it would be 100 Percent a foul,” said Klopp.
The background was the scene at the end of injury time when Manchester’s Jeremy Doku hit the ball and Alexis Mac Allister’s chest with a high leg. The video referee examined the situation but did not overrule the referee. By sharing points, Arsenal moved up to first place.
Four farewell titles are still possible for the former Bundesliga coach. Klopp has already won the League Cup. With second place in the league, the chance of winning the championship is good. In the Europa League, reaching the quarter-finals is just a formality after the 5-1 win at Sparta Prague in the first leg. The next highlight follows on Sunday (4.30 p.m.) in the round of the best eight in the FA Cup against arch-rivals Manchester United.
