Pep Guardiola has hinted that Jurgen Klopp could extend his Manchester City contract after dismissing suggestions he could leave the Premier League.
The 56-year-old Liverpool manager announced on Friday that he will step down from his role at Anfield this summer, eight-and-a-half years after he first took charge in October 2015.
Guardiola and Klopp have been locked in a fierce battle for the Premier League title in recent years, with City and Liverpool both leading the charge. There has been much speculation in recent years that both men would leave their respective clubs as Klopp’s departure became a reality, but Guardiola has no intention of doing anything about it. Hours after Klopp’s transfer was announced, Guardiola said: “I’m doing well. I have one more year and I want to do more.
I might extend it.” I try to control it. What we did last season we have to do even more now. This will not happen. Little by little.“I see my team every day and I’m there. They still argue with each other. Training competition. They want to win. Their accent is the way they speak. How do they communicate? How I celebrate.
“Obviously we lost, but we have to see how we perform. Even our players were surprised because they are still there after everything they have achieved. “I’m proud to be part of this club.”Guardiola paid tribute to Klopp, who he called “his biggest rival”. He continued: “I will sleep well [if Klopp leaves].
The game we played against Liverpool before was a nightmare. Of course she misses him. “It was shocking. When I heard that, I felt like I was part of Man City… we’re missing something. Our era cannot be defined without it…Liverpool. Not.
They were our biggest rivals.”And for me personally, he (Klopp) is the best opponent of my life: at Dortmund, at Bayern and here.” I think he will miss the Premier League. Charisma, personality and especially the performance of his team.
