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Pep Guardiola showed his true colours in a Jurgen Klopp Liverpool admission.(Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has lauded Liverpool icon Jurgen Klopp following their rivalry.

The Catalan tactician described the former Reds boss as the 'toughest' that he has ever faced following their juggernaut battles in the Premier League.

Klopp stepped down from his role at Anfield after nearly 10 years, last January, bringing an end to an illustrious spell with Liverpool, which also saw them narrowly miss out on further Premier League and Champions League success with Guardiola playing a role in denying the German in England.



Reflecting on his time in England, the City boss has lavished praised on his former foe.

The pair always shared a great respect despite the rivalry but following the departure of Klopp, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach couldn't manage to continue the domination with Liverpool returning to the summit.

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"Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have been the toughest I’ve ever faced in my life," Guardiola said in a video UEFA Pro Licence course with the Spanish football federation.

"I haven’t had an opponent with whom I’ve spent so many nights and afternoons with my [coaching staff], with many of those who were there, figuring out how to stop them.

"There were days when I thought, ‘I’ve got him’, and the next day he’d destroy me again.

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"He was the toughest by far because of his way of playing, his transitions, because he was very direct, because he attacked with a lot of players.

"I give a lot of credit to what we’ve done these years, to the league titles we’ve won, due to the incredible quality of the opponent we’ve had to face.

"Now Arsenal have taken that step, Liverpool are still there of course, but those three or four league titles we won [against] Jurgen Klopp are the greatest success we’ve achieved due to the impressive level…there hasn’t been a tougher opponent I’ve ever faced."

In Klopp's career, he hasn't faced any manager more than Guardiola during his time in the dugout.

The 57-year-old managed to get the better of his opposite number 12 times in 30 matches, losing 11 and drawing seven times.

Klopp earned memorable victories against Guardiola during the Reds rise to superiority in 2019-20, as well as wins in the FA Cup semi-final and Champions League quarter-final.

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After Arne Slot led Liverpool to a second Premier League crown, the German sent his successor a congratulatory message and will be back on Merseyside before the end of the season.

The Dutchman revealed: "That's Jurgen.

Like we all know with Jurgen.
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