Pep Guardiola says 56-year-old PL manager is the toughest he has ever faced in his career
In an interview with Sky Sports, the Catalan tactician sang Klopp’s praises and reflected on his sides’ hotly-contested battles against him in Germany and England.
Recently as well, Pep Guardiola credited the German coach for playing a part in the improvement of his managerial ability after years of the pair going toe-to-toe with each other.
Pep Guardiola names Jurgen Klopp as his toughest-ever opponent
Especially in the Premier League, Guardiola and Klopp’s rivalry over the years will go down in English football’s history books as one of the most legendary head-to-heads between two managers.
Manchester City and Liverpool have dominated the league for years, with the former coming out on top in terms of the silverware they have won during the Spaniard’s time in charge.
However, it has been far from a simple task and Pep Guardiola has acknowledged how Jurgen Klopp has always managed to keep him on his toes.
“Jurgen Klopp”, Guardiola told Sky Sports when quizzed about his toughest-ever managerial opponent.
“First, we’ve faced [each other] a thousand million times at [Borussia] Dortmund and here [Manchester City].”
Pep Guardiola also highlighted what has impressed him about Jurgen Klopp over the years, saying, “Second, because, he beat me a lot and that was always a challenge to do it again and again, and again so, I respect him a lot, because I think his teams always play in Dortmund or in Mainz before or now, in Liverpool, it’s so attractive for spectators, it’s so positive.”
He added, “We respect each other, at least from my point of view, I respect him a lot and of course, we have argued, I don’t like to be beaten by him but [he] has been my biggest rival for [the] amount of times we’ve played, how difficult it was and the pleasure when you beat him, beat them because you know how difficult it is.”
“Not for the pleasure because it’s football and you can win or lose it, it’s part of the game, it’s how difficult it is and we can play bad, good and I like it, that’s all.”
Classy from Pep Guardiola
Despite the rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool, Pep Guardiola has put the sporting enmity aside between both clubs to laud the brilliance of Jurgen Klopp.
Often, managers tend to make sly digs towards their fiercest foes due to being wrapped up in the moment of the rivalry between them and the teams in question.
But Pep Guardiola has clearly been impressed by Jurgen Klopp’s impact at various clubs and how much he has pushed his own sides in both individual encounters and league seasons.
For an all-time great like Guardiola to be as respectful of his opponents sets a great example for former, current and future managers and players on how to conduct themselves like a role model.
FA Cup third round draw simulator: Man Utd handed tough task, while Liverpool and Arsenal face tricky away ties
With the FA Cup third-round draw taking place this afternoon, SPORTbible thought to run a simulator and see what ties were handed out to the Premier League’s finest.
The draw for the third round of the FA Cup will take place on Sunday, as teams from the Premier League and Championship enter the heralded cup competition and provide clubs from across the pyramid the chance to play England and Wales’ biggest sides.
Manchester City are the defending champions after beating rivals United 2-1 in June’s final at Wembley.
With Pep Guardiola’s men, United and the other 18 top-flight clubs set to find out their opponents for the third round, we decided to run a draw simulator and see how each team fared.
Our simulator handed United the tricky task of taking on Brighton at Old Trafford, a fixture where the Seagulls have fared well in recent seasons.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been given a tricky away trip to Championship high-flyers Leicester City, who won the FA Cup back in 2021.
Arsenal have been drawn away against fellow Premier League side Newcastle – a tricky encounter for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Elsewhere, holders City face Championship side Plymouth away from home, in what will be a long and arduous journey for the reigning treble winners.
Tottenham have been handed a home fixture against Sheffield Wednesday, while Chelsea have been dealt an all-Premier League tie against Crystal Palace.
Below is the rest of our simulated draw:
Leeds United vs Coventry City
Bristol City vs AFC Wimbledon or Ramsgate
Nottingham Forest vs Cambridge United
West Ham United vs Bolton Wanderers
Burnley vs Southampton
Blackpool or Forest Green Rovers vs Wigan Athletic
Blackburn Rovers vs AFC Bournemouth
Chesterfield or Leyton Orient vs Millwall
Aston Villa vs Ipswich Town
Birmingham City vs Brentford
Everton vs Crewe Alexandra or Bristol Rovers
Watford vs Sheffield United
Sutton United vs West Bromwich Albion
Rotherham United vs Fulham
Luton Town vs Oxford United
Stoke City vs Middlesbrough
Cardiff City vs Maidstone United
Eastleigh or Reading vs Norwich City
Aldershot Town or Stockport County vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Sunderland vs Preston North End
Morecambe vs Queens Park Rangers
Wrexham or Yeovil Town vs Swansea City
Gillingham vs Peterborough United
Stevenage or Port Vale vs Huddersfield Town
Hull City vs Shrewsbury Town
Alfreton Town or Walsall vs Newport County or Barnet
Topics: Football, FA Cup, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool
Carabao Cup draw simulator: Man Utd and Liverpool handed tough away ties, Arsenal given London derby
SPORTbible has simulated the Carabao Cup third-round draw and it has thrown up some interesting encounters.
Last night’s action saw Tottenham crash out of the tournament on penalties against Fulham, while the likes of Brentford, Luton and Crystal Palace all made it through after nervy nights.
And for the the third round, holders Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Newcastle, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa are all in the hat upon the end of the regionalised portion of the cup.
Indeed, all ties are possible in the last 32 of the competition, which could set us up for some giant killings.
While the third round draw proper will be conducted at around 10:15pm GMT on Wednesday by former Sheffield Wednesday boss Darren Moore and ex-Lioness Izzy Christiansen, we decided to simulate our own draw ahead of Wednesday evening.
And it has thrown up some juicy ties in the last 32.
Premier League champions Manchester City have been guaranteed to welcome Premier League opposition to the Etihad, having drawn Nottingham Forest or Burnley, who play one another on Wednesday evening.
Elsewhere, Liverpool have been dealt a tough trip to Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, having just claimed an unlikely 2-1 win there last Sunday.
Moreover, United travel to Brighton, in what would be a tricky fixture for Erik ten Hag’s men, while Arsenal, who will have high hopes of winning a trophy this term after their summer spend, will go up against Premier League opposition West Ham.
Here’s the draw in full.
Match 1: Harrogate Town or Blackburn Rovers vs. Mansfield Town
Match 2: Doncaster Rovers or Everton vs. Sutton United
Match 3: Wolves vs. Norwich City
Match 4: Manchester City vs. Nottingham Forest or Burnley
Match 5: Sheffield United or Lincoln City vs. Fulham
Match 6: Newcastle vs. Liverpool
Match 7: Leicester vs. Aston Villa
Match 8: Peterborough vs. Crystal Palace
Match 9: Bournemouth vs. Ipswich Town
Match 10: Stoke City vs. Luton Town
Match 11: Middlesbrough vs. Port Vale
Match 12: Brentford vs. Chelsea or Wimbledon
Match 13: Brighton and Hove Albion vs. Manchester United
Match 14: Exeter City vs. Bradford City
Match 15: Salford City vs. Cardiff City
Match 16: West Ham United vs. Arsenal
Topics: Football, Carabao Cup, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United
Carabao Cup fourth round draw simulated as Man Utd handed nightmare tie, Liverpool face away trip
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Featured Image Credit: Getty
We have simulated Wednesday’s Carabao Cup last 16 draw – and it is bad news for Manchester United in particular.
Erik ten Hag’s side breezed through to the fourth round on Tuesday by defeating Crystal Palace 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro and Anthony Martial got on the scoresheet, while Sofyan Amrabat impressed in his first start for the club after joining on loan from Fiorentina on deadline day.
Mason Mount made his return from injury off the bench, while there was also a senior debut for young prospect Dan Gore in midfield.
Elsewhere, fellow Premier League side Burnley thrashed Salford 4-0, but Wolves lost 3-2 to Championship high-flyers Ipswich in an entertaining encounter.
Middlesbrough were the other Championship club to progress to round four, while Exeter and Port Vale (League One) and Mansfield (League Two) also progressed.
Wednesday evening will see the other eight fixtures of round three played, with Newcastle hosting Manchester City in the tie of the round.
Other all-Premier League ties are Chelsea against Brighton, and Aston Villa versus Everton.
Liverpool, meanwhile, take on Leicester at Anfield.
Ahead of the draw, which will be hosted live on Sky Sports by presenter Emma Saunders, former Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge and ex-Everton and Manchester City midfielder Izzy Christiansen, we decided to simulate our own draw.
In the case of a match yet to be completed, we’ve picked the team with the highest league position to add to the draw. Here are the results:
- Burnley vs Liverpool
- Ipswich vs Middlesbrough
- Brighton vs Cardiff
- Arsenal vs Exeter
- Fulham vs Bournemouth
- Port Vale vs West Ham
- Aston Villa vs Mansfield
- Manchester City vs Manchester United
The highlight of our simulation, of course, is the mouth-watering Manchester derby – a repeat of last season’s FA Cup final.
Arsenal, meanwhile, face League One side Exeter – who defeated Luton in round three – if they can beat Brentford.
And Liverpool will travel to Burnley if they can get past Leicester at Anfield.
Topics: Carabao Cup, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal
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