Guardiola Downplays Real Madrid Rivalry, Names Klopp’s Liverpool as Ultimate Career TestDespite Real Madrid’s 5-1 aggregate triumph over 10-man Manchester City on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola insisted that the Spanish giants are not his toughest-ever obstacle.
Speaking after a difficult night at the Etihad—which saw Bernardo Silva sent off early for a handball on the line—Guardiola shifted the conversation toward his long-standing battles in England.
Addressing journalists who suggested Real Madrid was his “greatest obstacle,” Guardiola told Amazon Prime: “Real Madrid have not been my biggest challenge.
My biggest challenge have been Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.” He suggested that those outside of the UK might have missed the sheer intensity of the City-Liverpool rivalry, calling the experience of facing Klopp’s side a “great learning experience.”