- Pep Guardiola has called Jurgen Klopp his 'best rival' ahead of his Liverpool exit
- But the Man City boss insists the German will eventually return to management
- Dominic King: 'People say you're a superficial Sophie Scouser', but they don't understand what this man is – a modern Bill Shankly – It's all kicking off
Manchester City chairman Pep Guardiola believes Jurgen Klopp will return to football following the Liverpool manager's shock announcement that he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Guardiola and Klopp have forged a legendary rivalry in England, while the two were rivals in Germany prior to their time in the Premier League.
But Guardiola believes we haven't seen the end of Klopp, with whom he has formed a close bond.
„He won't admit it, but he will come back, I know,” Guardiola said.
'In 10 years, I don't know. He said he must carefully charge his energy.
'With his personality, with his energy, he will come back: the national team, another team, I don't know.
I think football needs personalities and managers like him.
On Klopp's departure, the City boss added: 'I'll sleep well. The days before we played against Liverpool were almost a dream.
'Of course I miss him. It was a shock, as it was for everyone.
'Let's lose something. Without him, we cannot define our era here without Liverpool. It is impossible.
„He is the best competitor I have ever had in my life. Dortmund when I was at Bayern, then here. The Premier League is going to miss him, charisma, personality and especially the way his teams play. Of course I wish him all the best.
'He loves the game and you see the passion he has on the touchline. But it's been nine years in the same place, and the demand is very high. Every moment you think I need to breathe.
'I didn't talk to Jurgen, but he probably felt it. Take a break, take a step back, and take a perspective on everything I fully understand.
„I don't want to compare with him, but I had that feeling at Barcelona. I needed time to find myself.
'You don't have time to analyze your life and see what happened. It's another and another. Maybe that's how Jürgen felt.'
„Całkowity introwertyk. Nieprzejednany specjalista od sieci. Przyjazny fanatyk bekonu. Student ekstremalnych. Miłośnik piwa. Organizator.”