The pair enjoyed one of the Premier League’s most famous rivalries in recent years and Klopp admitted earlier this week that he believed Guardiola to be the “best manager in the world” for guiding Manchester City to four straight titles.
After Sunday’s action, which saw City clinch the title and Klopp bid farewell to Anfield, Guardiola was overcome with emotion as he responded to Klopp’s praise.
“I will miss him a lot,” Guardiola told his post-match press conference as he visibly fought back tears. “Jurgen has been a really important part of my life. He’s taken me to another level as a manager.
‘I think we respect each other incredibly. I have the feeling that he will be back. I just want to say thank you so much for his words.
“But he knows perfectly that behind me there are a lot of things that this club provides and gives to me.”
Klopp had been keen to forget the 115 charges against City for financial breaches and keep the focus on Guardiola for leading the Cityzens to an unprecedented period of dominance in English football.
“Everybody knows about the 115 charges, but I have no clue what that means,” Klopp said in the build-up to the final day.
“I only know the number. Whatever has happened at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world – and that is really important.
“If you put any other manager in that club, they don’t win the league four times in a row. That’s down to him and his boys. Does that mean they can do what they want? No. But I don’t know what they did – if they did anything – and I’m not here to say they have. We will see. Of course, I would like to know one day. Everyone wants to know. But I will be somewhere else.
“The quality of Pep makes the difference so I don’t worry about these things. We will see. It’s not my problem and I am fine with what we have and what we’ve achieved.”
