*Best rival of my career – Pep Guardiola
WorldStage Newsonline– Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has explained he will be leaving the club at the end of the season because he is running out of energy.
Liverpool announced the news of Jurgen Klopp’s resignation on Friday morning.
Announcing his decision, Klopp said: “I have to [say] I will leave the club at the end of the season. I can understand that it’s a shock for a lot of people in this moment when you hear it for the first time, but obviously, I can explain it or at least try to explain it.
“I love absolutely everything about this club. I love everything about the city, I love everything about our supporters. I love the team. I love the staff. I love everything.
“That I still take this decision it shows you that I am convinced it’s the one I have to take. It is that I am, how can I say this? I am running out of energy and I have no problem now, obviously, I think I have known it for already longer that I will have to announce it at one point.
“But I am absolutely fine now but I also know that I cannot do the job again and again and again. And after all the times we’ve had together after all the time we’ve spent together, the things we went through together, the respect grew for you, the love grew for you and the least thing I owe you is the truth. And that is the truth.”
Reds prepare for a clash with Norwich City in the FA Cup on Sunday. Klopp arrived at Anfield in 2015 after a successful stint in charge of Borussia Dortmund. In his time on Merseyside, the Liverpool manager notably won the club’s first Premier League title in the 2019/2020 Covid-19 affected season.
Liverpool also won the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup during his tenure. Klopp will face Manchester City for the final time in the Premier League on March 9 and Manchester United on April 6.
Speculation has already begun as to who will take over at Anfield. Currently, according to Betfair, the favourite for the role is Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso.
PEP GUARDIOLA
Pep Guardiola joked that he will sleep better once Jurgen Klopp has left Liverpool – and backed his long-time rival to return to management one day.
Guardiola joined City a year after Klopp arrived on Merseyside, and the duo have been jostling at the top of English football almost ever since, with the German ending Liverpool’s 30-year wait for the title in 2020.
I will sleep better. Before playing against Liverpool was always a nightmare
They had previously locked horns for two years in Germany with Guardiola at Bayern Munich and Klopp in charge of Borussia Dortmund, and have faced each other more than any other manager – a total of 29 times.
The two clubs have since met in the Premier League on 15 occasions in an enduring rivalry which Guardiola once described as “beautiful”, with City winning five matches, Liverpool four and the other six finishing as draws.
Guardiola, whose side currently trail leaders Liverpool by five points but have a game in hand, said: “I will sleep better. Before playing against Liverpool was always a nightmare.
“Of course he will be missed. It was shock to everyone. As Manchester City we will lose something, we cannot define our period without him and without Liverpool.
“He is the best rival I have had in my career. The Premier League will miss his charisma and personality. I wish him all the best.”
Klopp plans to take a year off after leaving Liverpool and then see how he feels but has ruled out a return to management in England.
Guardiola, who took a year-long sabbatical from football after leaving Barcelona in 2012 before taking charge at Bayern Munich, has no doubts that the German will return to the dugout at some point.
The Spaniard added: “He will not admit it but he will be back. I know it. Maybe in 10 years time, when he’s charged his energy. I’m saying this personality will be back. With national team, I don’t know.
“Nine years in the same place, maybe he needs to breathe, to step back. At Barcelona I had that feeling.
“But football needs personalities like him. Hopefully next season we will have time to go out for dinner together.”
