Pep, Klopp speak ahead of massive Man City vs Liverpool scrap

Of all the things the managers of Liverpool and Manchester City could disagree about, this one must carry amongst the lowest possible amounts of animosity.

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp disagree over whether the former is the best coach in the world as both men spoke Friday ahead of Sunday’s monumental match in Manchester (watch live, 11:30am ET Sunday on USA Network and online via NBCSports.com)

No need for police and an arbitrator… this one’s not a fierce argument.

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“Pep is the best coach in the world and we all would agree on that,” Klopp said. “If anybody doubts him, I have no idea how that could happen.”

Man City boss Guardiola took umbrage with Klopp’s labeling of the Catalan wizard as the best manager in the world on Friday ahead of their big Sunday meeting to (arguably) decide the 2021-22 Premier League season.

“I didn’t become a manager to be the best — I’m not,” Guardiola said. “Thank you so much, but I’m not. I’d like to say I’m the best, but I’m not.”

Klopp and Pep also traded ideas on what makes the rivalry special and

Jurgen Klopp is not going to go as far as to say he’s happy to compete with the best football team of the past 15 years, but he knows that he’s pushed Pep Guardiola and vice versa.

“In sport, I think what helps the most is a strong opponent. In the long term, especially,” Klopp said, drawing a comparison to the best men’s tennis players of this century.  “I think Nadal and Federer enjoyed the rivalry they had. That’s how it is in sport. I wouldn’t say I’m thankful City is that good, but it didn’t harm our development.”

Guardiola was happier to discuss was the nature of the incredible rivalry between Man City and