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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Richard Garnett

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa names key difference between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery when it comes winning Premier League titles.

But not everyone can be copied, according to Marcelo Bielsa.

The popular Leeds United boss is an admirer of both Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, and has hailed their achievements in European and English football.

But although the Elland Road Argentine feels coaches can draw best practice from the Liverpool and Manchester City managers, he believes that one of the pair is not worth trying to replicate.

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Speaking to Dazn News' Fever Pitch show, he said: "Success produces the desire to imitate and here there have been very successful coaches who have generated the desire to reproduce in other teams the procedure that allowed Guardiola and Klopp (to win) the league.

"Guardiola is not someone to interpret, he is someone to enjoy. When you see what he does, you enjoy it. And if one wants to reproduce what he does, it is very difficult because to reproduce what he does forces us to an interpretation and I have the feeling that Guardiola's intellectual construction is not accessible, at least to me."

Bielsa went on to describe Klopp as one of a number of German coaches who "have influence and arouse interest", with a style that he finds easier to understand.

Nevertheless, he does not think this makes the Kop hero any less special than his City counterpart.

He said: "From my point of view Klopp is a coach with his own stamp and also his game is very attractive, but he is more accessible to be decoded.

"The enthusiasm that Klopp transmits is a very clear sign of his teams, and building resources to drive creative play is what sets Guardiola apart, from my point of view."

Liverpool enjoyed a victory at Elland Road back in September, with goals from Mohamed Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane completing a 3-0 away win.

However, the match was marred by a serious injury to Reds youngster Harvey Elliott.

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