Your trusted source

Pep Guardiola has joked that life will be easier for him and Manchester City after Jurgen Klopp decided to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, GOAL reports.

Klopp's announcement on Friday that he would be calling time on his trophy-laden nine-year spell with Liverpool in May stunned world football and Guardiola paid tribute to his old adversary, who has brought out the very best in the Catalan coach, first with Bayern Munich and then with City.

"I will sleep better. The days before playing against Liverpool were almost a nightmare," Guardiola told a press conference ahead City beat Spurs 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round. "Of course he will be missed. I was shocked, like everyone, by the news. I felt a part of Man City would be lost. We cannot define our period here together without him and Liverpool - it is impossible."

"They have been our biggest rival and personally he has been my biggest rival from when he was at Borussia Dortmund and I was at Bayern Munich," Klopp added. "I think the Premier League is going to miss his charisma, personality and the way his teams play. They have always been a pleasure to watch how positive they are in their approach. They try to win every game. I wish him all the best. Liverpool is always tough," he said.

Guardiola has faced Klopp more than any other manager (28 times), and also lost to him more than he has against any other coach (12 times).