Wants to see Klopp again

Pep emotional: “We need personalities like him”

Jürgen Klopp (left) and Pep Guardiola appreciate and respect each other.(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Pep Guardiola bid an emotional farewell to Jürgen Klopp after Sunday's clash between Manchester City and Liverpool. The German is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season - bringing a respectful rivalry to an end, at least temporarily. 

Immediately after the final whistle of the spectacular 1:1 between Liverpool and Manchester City, the cameras panned to the coaches' benches and caught a long embrace between Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. "We respect each other brutally," said the German Liverpool coach. The draw in the big clash of the English Premier League was the last duel between the two star coaches for the time being. Klopp is retiring from the Reds at the end of the season.

Nevertheless, Guardiola believes he will be back on the bench. "He will come back. He loves the job too much," said the Catalan and explained: "Football needs personalities like him." Man City have won five of the last six league titles, mostly chased and challenged by Klopp's Liverpool. "He has made us a better team. He made me a better coach," Guardiola emphasized.

"Anything can happen"
The draw between Liverpool and the defending champions means Arsenal are now top of the table, level on points with Liverpool. City follow one point behind. "We still have ten games to go. Anything can happen," said Guardiola about the three-way battle.

Klopp saw his team's draw against the reigning Champions League winners as a "statement" to the competition. "Arsenal will not stop. City will not stop. We will not stop," announced Klopp.

Four titles still possible
The 56-year-old also showed his emotional side once again when he lamented a penalty not being awarded after a tackle between Jeremy Doku and Alexis MacAllister. "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? Any other place on the pitch it would be 100 percent a foul," Klopp scolded.

Four farewell titles are still possible for the former Dortmund coach. Klopp has already won the League Cup. With second place in the Premier League, there is a good chance of winning the league title. In the Europa League, reaching the quarter-finals is now just a formality after the 5:1 win at Sparta Prague in the first leg. The next highlight follows on Sunday in the FA Cup quarter-final at arch-rivals Manchester United.