Pep Guardiola: Jurgen Klopp is the biggest rival in my managerial career

Pep Guardiola claims his rivalry with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool is the most intense he has experienced during his managerial career

The Manchester City boss famously clashed with Jose Mourinho when he and the Portuguese were the respective managers of Spain’s big two, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Yet he feels the level of competition City have faced from Liverpool in recent years has been a notch above anything he had to deal when he was competing with Real for LaLiga and Champions League titles.

“In the last five years they have been the biggest opponent,” said Guardiola ahead of City’s eagerly-anticipated clash with their title rivals on Sunday.

“They have been an incredible, marvellous contender, with good games. I admire Liverpool and the way they do it but enjoy the challenge.

“Jurgen, as a manager, has been the biggest rival I’ve ever had in my career and I think what both teams propose is good for football.

“The point is not a jibe to Jose. He is an exciting manager and I was his rival but I’ve been here five years and played many more times against Liverpool.

“Except the year we made 100 points, the rest were tight. It is because they are good and hopefully they think we are good too.

“I will remember my period here, when I’m retired watching and playing golf, I’ll remember my biggest rival was Liverpool, for sure.”

City hold a one-point lead heading into an encounter at the Etihad Stadium that is being widely billed as a title-decider.

Yet while the match will undoubtedly have huge implications for the race at the top, Guardiola did not want to say it would be decisive.

He said: “It will be a massive, important three points but there will still be seven games, 21 points, and a lot of things involving the Champions