Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Pep Guardiola rang him in the immediate aftermath of the Champions League final in Madrid to pass on his congratulations.
Manchester City, of course, beat the Reds to the Premier League title, but the European Cup was a more than decent consolation. After a stunning season from both teams, it was fitting that both were able to lift big trophies.
Lee Nobes, the Reds’ head physio, who worked for Manchester City until last November, took a phone call from Guardiola, who then spoke to Klopp before the German had even had the chance to complete his post-match media obligations.
Speaking exclusively to Goal, Klopp explained: “[Nobes] handed me his phone. I looked at the screen and it said ‘Pep’. 100 per cent, I thought it was my Pep, Pep Lijnders! I thought ‘okay, that’s odd’. It was only when I started speaking that I realised it was the other Pep!
“There was just a lot of respect. I don’t know who called who, but it was a nice moment. We talked about what a great season it was, we had a few jokes. We were both obviously in a good mood!”
Earlier this week, Guardiola was critical of Klopp in his pre-Wembley press conference following the German’s comments about transfer spending, but generally, the pair get on very well.
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Hostilities on the pitch are set to be resumed on Sunday afternoon with the Community Shield, but off it, the two rivals are usually full of admiration for one another.
Guardiola and Klopp have known each other a long time having competed at the top of the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
The pair are the top two managers in world football and they seem to have nothing but respect for each other’s abilities.