Klopp and Guardiola have shared countless battles over the years (Picture: Getty)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he will ‘sleep a little bit easier’ when Jurgen Klopp leaves Liverpool, but predicts his old rival ‘will be back’ in management before long.

Klopp announced on Friday he will step down as Liverpool manager in a decision that rocked the football world.

City have won five of the last six Premier League titles with Liverpool the only side to halt them in that period, finishing runners up on two occasions having claimed the trophy themselves in 2020.

Guardiola and Klopp, the two best managers in the Premier League over that period, have shared countless battles dating back to their time in the Bundesliga while in charge of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
Klopp has vowed to never manage another English club once he walks away from Anfield and suggested it would be at least a year before he returns to the dugout.

Speaking after City’s FA Cup victory over Tottenham, Guardiola paid tribute to the coach he recognises as his ‘biggest rival’ who will no longer be giving him sleepless nights when City meet Liverpool after this season.

?I am a little bit surprised,? Guardiola told ITV Sport.

Klopp will step down at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)

?He is an incredible manager. I don’t know him closely but he is an incredible person as well. I have a feeling that at the end of the seas...