Pep Guardiola has admitted to watching Liverpool matches more closely following the departure of long-time rival Jurgen Klopp.
Over eight intense seasons in the Premier League, Guardiola and Klopp developed a fierce rivalry, frequently clashing in high-stakes encounters that often determined the title race.
The two managers went head-to-head in four different seasons that saw their teams compete at the pinnacle of English football.
Their rivalry dates back even further to the Bundesliga, where Guardiola’s Bayern Munich and Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund regularly faced off, building mutual respect and an in-depth understanding of each other’s tactics.
However, with Klopp no longer at the helm of Liverpool, Guardiola now faces a new challenge in the form of Arne Slot.
The Dutch manager’s tactical approach is uncharted territory for the City boss, prompting Guardiola to analyze Liverpool games more thoroughly to decipher Slot’s style.
Guardiola’s tactical knowledge will be put to the test when Manchester City travel to Anfield on November 30, followed by the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium in February.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Guardiola explained how Slot’s arrival has forced him to revisit archived footage and adjust his strategies for this new era of the Liverpool rivalry.
“When I play a new club in the Champions League that I don’t know, I see much more than playing against Arsenal, for example,” Pep Guardiola said.
“Of course, I want to watch Arsenal a lot, but Mikel has been there four or five years.
“And before with Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
“Now I have to watch more Liverpool because of Arne:
“I don’t know exactly what they do. But with Jurgen, we knew each other better.
“When I was younger, I watched much, much more than now.
“Now I’m lazier. I think I watch well enough to understand what the opponents want to do.
“I try to choose the right footage to show my players, to convince them of what to do to try and beat them.”
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