Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp received some lukewarm praise from rival Man City manager Pep Guardiola who said he is “good for football”.
The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City has reached new heights this week and there is much tension between the sides. A sheepish Pep Guardiola could only manage to say that rival boss Jurgen Klopp is “good for football”.
In an NBC Sports segment before Sunday’s clash the network interviewed both managers separately and grilled them about each other.
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Klopp had plenty to say about Man City – giving them high praise – as the most difficult side to defend against in the world because of their quality. He clarified that this was not mind games or to put “pressure” on to Guardiola, but merely an acknowledgement of how good the Premier League champions are.
Guardiola on the other hand visibly struggled to say good things about Klopp and Liverpool – not because he doesn’t think their good – but because he clearly hates losing and being, in many ways, second best.
The best he could manage is to say that Klopp is “good for football” – a bland statement with barely the faintest hint of genuine recognition for the Liverpool boss. You can watch the whole segment here:
Despite winning the last two league titles with record points hauls they are currently fourth in the table, nine points behind the Reds. There also they small matter of the European Cup niggling away at the psyche over at the Etihad.
A spat between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez spilled over into England duty as the former Red lost his cool with the defender. Sterling has since been put aside for England’s next fixture as a punishment.
Reds will be hoping that is only drama to come out of the international break and there will be no more injuries after Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson were ruled out of their games with their national sides.