Jurgen Klopp has told Pep Guardiola not to sign a new contract at Manchester City, and instead take a long sabbatical from football.
Guardiola has led City to four of the last five Premier League titles, limiting Klopp's Liverpool to just one title, with two of Guardiola's successes coming on the final day to pip Liverpool to the crown by a single point.
So when Klopp was alerted to the fact that Guardiola is yet to extend his current City contract - which expires in the summer - the Liverpool boss said he would prefer if Guardiola called time on his Premier League spell.
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“Who told you that? I didn’t know that,” he told reporters. “I would prefer Pep is doing a sabbatical for four years or something! 100 per cent! It wouldn’t be any easier but at least a bit more open.
“Actually, my preferred solution would have been that he had a sabbatical the last four years! Honestly, it’s a joke."
Asked if he would miss their rivalry, Klopp discussed the relationship between the pair that is built more on mutual respect than any particular personal connection.
Klopp said: “No! [He wouldn’t miss the rivalry]. He’s told me that when we are not in charge of any club anymore, we will sit together and can sit together and have a glass of wine, even though I am not a big wine drinker. We could do it when I am working and when he’s off, I would visit him. We could have that talk, no problem.
“What Pep is doing is absolutely outstanding. Not only the time he is doing it already, the way he plays, he will never stop. He wants to win desperately. Each game is the most important. So many things which are really special for a manager.
“I’ve said it, and don’t know how often I have to say it, he’s the best manager in the world and he’s proving that all the time. Every day. It’s special, what they are doing. Really special. I respect that.
“It’s fine. I am a very happy person. I have no problem with the situation. I never understood that. I’m not Nadal, or not Federer and Pep’s not Nadal. They compete on the highest level and are best friends.
“Pep and I are not best friends because we don’t know each other but I respect him a lot and I know he respects what we are doing as well. For a rivalry, we don’t need to be disrespectful.
“Around the games, I would say we have a good relationship without meeting or talking. It’s respectful and during the game we are both competitors. So far we’ve done really well from cutting that out. The situation is like it is, no problem with that. I always could see brilliance or admit brilliance when I saw it. In this case, it’s the case.”
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