Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, believes that his skills as a manager have improved as a result of the challenges he has faced while competing against Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has credited Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for making him a better manager throughout his career. Guardiola’s City side have dominated the Premier League in recent years, winning five of the last six titles, with Liverpool claiming the other in the 2019-20 season. Currently, Liverpool sit at the top of the league table with 67 points, while City trail behind in third place, three points adrift.

Guardiola spoke about the coaching battles he has had with Klopp over the years, both during his time at Liverpool and when he was in charge of Bayern Munich facing Klopp’s Dortmund sides. Reflecting on the 2018-19 season when City won the Premier League by a single point ahead of Liverpool, Guardiola praised the incredible battles they had against each other.

The City manager expressed his admiration for Liverpool, stating that their quality as a football club and Klopp’s managerial skills have played a significant role in his own development. Guardiola emphasized that he will never forget these battles and the impact they had on his career.

In the 2022-23 season, City achieved a historic treble for the first time in their history. Guardiola admitted that it was difficult to fully comprehend the magnitude of the achievement at the time, but he now cherishes the moments when he can reflect on it. He highlighted the emotions he felt during the final game of the Premier League season against Aston Villa, where the team’s success was truly realized.

Guardiola also mentioned the importance of winning the Champions League, as it silenced the critics who had questioned City’s ability to triumph in Europe. He described the celebrations and parade that followed the victory, noting that he now enjoys these moments more when he can relive them at home.

Looking ahead, City will face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of this year’s Champions League. This will be the third consecutive season that the two teams have been drawn together in the competition. Fans can watch the match live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Tuesday, April 9.