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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola(Image: Emilee Chinn - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola has revealed he sought the permission of former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp before approaching Pep Lijnders to become part of the Manchester City backroom staff.

Lijnders was last week appointed as assistant coach at City having been out of work since being sacked as manager of Red Bull Salzburg before Christmas after less than six months in charge.

The Dutchman spent almost 10 years at Liverpool, first as part of Brendan Rodgers' backroom staff in 2014 before working under Klopp after the German was made boss the following year.

During his time with Klopp, Liverpool were regular challengers to City's Premier League dominance, missing out on the title by a point in 2019 and 2022 while claiming the championship in 2020.

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And Guardiola has explained why he wanted the green light from Klopp ahead of setting the wheels in motion for Lijnders to join the coaching staff of his former chief rivals.

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“We had a conversation with Jurgen but not about Pep Lijnders,” said Guardiola.

“It was, as always, a long conversation, and in a certain moment I suggested I was thinking about Pep and he (Klopp) gave me his opinion that was, of course, so high – his right-hand (man) in one of the most successful periods in Liverpool.

“After I took time to decide, reflect.

I wasn’t in direct touch with Pep because he was in Salzburg and his last experience was Liverpool (for) many years.

I asked permission from Jurgen because I didn’t want to interfere.

“I said ‘will it be a problem to talk to him?’ and he said 'absolutely not'.

They make me a better, better manager.

"At the end it’s a question of back and forth; his (Lijnders) knowledge, I drain, and every day since we met together, we talk a lot about tactics, football, training sessions – he’s been so inspiring.

“I’m really pleased and we’ll see what happens in future.”


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