Ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has opened up about his relationship with other coaches, including Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti.
During his tenure at Liverpool, Klopp endured some tough battles with opposition managers, with some seemingly giving him a harder time in terms of getting results than others.
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Liverpool and Manchester City built a strong rivalry during Klopp's tenure, with the two sides often pushing each other to the limit in their fight for Premier League titles.
Speaking at an event celebrating 10 years of Hout Bay United Football Community in Cape Town, Klopp admitted that although he found it daunting facing Guardiola, he always imagined having an off-field relationship with the Spaniard.
"I always had a sense that if Pep is not in charge anymore, and I am not in charge anymore, we would have a proper night together, so sitting together talking about what happened and stuff like this.
"I really thought that maybe it will never happen, I had no clue."
Klopp added that Real Madrid boss Ancelotti was also a tough opponent to face, and he didn't like coming up against him on the pitch, but the rivalry did not extend beyond the field.
"And others, we don't like as much, but it's more the management of specific clubs.
"So I lost, honestly, I literally lost Carlo Ancelotti. And then it became management level [rivalry]. This is a special moment, a very special occasion in games.
"We are not the person you should imagine. I wouldn't be like that [rivals] in private life."
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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