24 November 2023 , 22:30
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Jurgen Klopp says his differing psychology to Pep Guardiola’s intense personality may explain how he’s been able to challenge football’s “superpower” over the past decade.
Incredibly, the Liverpool manager has a WINNING record against the Catalan, who is regarded as amongst the best coaches in history - a unique feat amongst bosses who’ve played more than three matches against Guardiola.
Klopp has beaten his Manchester City counterpart on 12 occasions - and lost 11, with five drawn - since they first faced each other a decade ago in the German Super Cup, back in July 2013. No manager has come remotely close to so many victories against the football legend.
And the Reds boss explained that it partly comes down to his own psychology. “I’m not sure how deep you have to go into our personality to figure out who we both are!” he said with a smile.
“I am 56 and I still don't know who I am, but Pep is for sure this type of guy who is angry with his boys if they don't want the ball. I have that a little bit…but for me I love to organise other things to get an advantage.
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“That is deep in my personality. Defending is an important part of the game so that is where my philosophy starts, where his maybe ends. So we can be uncomfortable (for him), and that is what we have to do.
"If it was that easy our record would be much better - it will be super tough but we have to make sure we will make it tough for them as well, that is always the plan.”
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Jurgen Klopp is one of the few managers to have a winning record against Pep Guardiola (Michael Regan/Getty Images)It is quite probably a showdown between currently the best two managers in world football, and possibly the top two over the past decade. And Klopp can’t help but admit that he enjoys the mind games with Guardiola, who he cheerfully accepts is the best in the business.
“If I have to tell you how influential Pep has been on football it would be a real joke to be honest. I don't know how often I have said it but he's the best manager in the world,” he explained.
“A game of chess with him? Yes. Interesting. I really enjoy the preparation for these games. Last game against Brentford, they had an extra 20 set pieces (we had to analyse). Now we have another game and a lot of it is second balls, fights.
"It is about each space you give them on the pitch that they want to explore. They really want to play - and I love preparing for an opponent who wants the ball. It gives you an opportunity to create something.
"There might be spaces and we have to use them. It's a similar game for them and I don't think that is chess to be honest, but it’s really interesting. Pep had a super team that time at Bayern but I think this City team is better. It is a super power.”
Klopp has Konate, Gravenberch, Gomez and Jones back from injury, and says he will “look into the whites of his players’ eyes to see who is ready to start, after his South American contingent arrived back late from international duty.