Pep Guardiola on Jurgen Klopp exit: I will sleep better before we play Liverpool

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted he will miss old rival Jurgen Klopp when the German coach leaves Liverpool at the end of the season.

Klopp surprised the football world on Friday when he announced that he would be quitting the Merseyside club, stating that he was “running out of energy” after nine years in charge.

Liverpool and Manchester City have become major rivals over recent seasons as the two teams swept up major trophies, both at home and abroad.

Guardiola and Klopp were also managers of the best two teams in the Bundesliga when they were in charge of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.

And, speaking after Manchester defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the FA Cup on Friday night, Gaurdiola revealed his surprise at hearing the news that his old sparring partner had called time on his Liverpool career.

“I am a little bit [shocked],” said the Spaniard. “He’s an absolutely incredible manager and I know I don’t know him closely but he’s an incredible person as well.

“I had a feeling that he’s leaving part of us too at Man City as Liverpool have been our biggest rival in his years. Personally, he has been my biggest rival from when he was at Dortmund and I was at Bayern Munich

“He will be missed, personally I will miss. I am pleased because without him I will sleep a little bit better the night before we play against Liverpool! But I wish him all the best. He doesn’t admit it but he will be back.

“All the managers will [feel tired] when you’ve done many years, I feel it completely. I felt it at Barcelona so I understand it completely.”

City stayed on course for glory in three competitions when Nathan Ake's 88th-minute goal earned Guardiola's men an FA Cup fourth-round win against Spurs –