LONDON: Pep Guardiola sat down at his post-match press conference on Wednesday, ecstatic Merseyside voices still ringing in his ears, and proclaimed Jurgen Klopp as the “best manager in the world for spectators,” citing the German’s overtly attack-minded approach.
Klopp’s side had just ripped apart his Premier League champions-elect in a breathtaking display of attacking verve and style in what was one of the most complete Liverpool performances since the charismatic German took over at Anfield.
As we have come to expect from the Catalan, it was a gracious testimony. But it was also one he has had to offer Klopp far too often. Wednesday’s half-hour blitz of the City back-four led to Klopp’s seventh victory in 13 games against Guardiola, the best record of any coach. A few years ago, their Bundesliga battles were stuff of legend — their eight clashes in Germany produced 22 goals — as was this season’s Premier League encounter, which Liverpool won 4-3.
After Liverpool had gone 3-0 up it was clear that Guardiola’s team selection was all wrong. From the outset, the Spaniard showed too much respect to Liverpool with his decision to drop Raheem Sterling and go with a slightly more defensive line-up. That has not been the “City way” at all this season, where Guardiola’s charges swarm all over teams from the first whistle until the last.
It was Klopp’s team that launched wave after relentless wave at the City back-four, who could not cope. They lost their shape and appeared devoid of any idea as to how to wrestle back control. By the time Guardiola pushed Kevin de Bruyne forward and brought Sterling on in the second half, the damage was already done.
Klopp has Guardiola’s number simply by giving Guardiola a taste of his own medicine, the German knows no other way of playing other than attack. What Liverpool’s barnstorming barrage shows is that, when push comes to shove, nor does Guardiola.
Too often this season, teams have rolled out the red carpet, allowed City to play and been thrashed as a result.
Once the dust settles on what could have been a quadruple-winning season for City, other teams in England and in Europe should watch a re-run of Wednesday’s match. They will see that if you play Guardiola at his own game, his teams unravel. Guardiola remains one of the best coaches in the business, Wednesday does not change that. But it is clear there is room for improvement for the perfectionist yet.
Jurgen Klopp’s attacking style finds flaws in Pep Guardiola’s City system
Jurgen Klopp’s attacking style finds flaws in Pep Guardiola’s City system
- Jurgen Klopp now has seven victories in 13 games against Pep Guardiola
- Liverpool take a commanding 3-0 lead into the second leg at Etihad Stadium
Related
Trump said Iran ‘welcome to compete’ in World Cup, says Infantino
US President Donald Trump has said that Iran is “welcome” to participate at the upcoming World Cup in North America, despite the ongoing Middle East war, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino said on Wednesday.
The war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has thrown into doubt Iran’s participation at this summer’s men’s football World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
During a meeting to discuss preparations for the competition, “we also spoke about the current situation in Iran,” Infantino, the head of world football’s governing body, wrote on Instagram.
“During the discussions, President Trump reiterated that the Iranian team is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States,” he wrote.
The comments marked the first time that Infantino, who in December created a FIFA peace prize and awarded it to Trump, has acknowledged the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Trump’s remarks to Infantino are a stark contrast to his comments to Politico last week.
Trump told Politico: “I really don’t care” if Iran play at the World Cup.
FIFA’s president has grown close to Trump since he returned to the White House, even attending his inauguration.
Asylum claims
Iran’s federation football chief on Tuesday cast doubt on his team’s participation in the sporting extravaganza, following the defection of several women footballers from the Islamic republic during the Asian Cup in Australia.
“If the World Cup is like this, who in their right mind would send their national team to a place like this?” Mehdi Taj asked on Iranian state television.
While the event is spread out across three countries, Iran are scheduled to play all three group games in the United States, two in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Should Iran withdraw from the sport’s quadrennial showpiece, it would be the first time a country did that since France and India pulled out of the 1950 finals in Brazil.
On Tuesday, at the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, some players from Iran’s team claimed asylum after they came under fire from state television for not singing the country’s national anthem before one match.
Five players, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, slipped away from the team hotel under the cover of darkness to claim sanctuary from Australian officials, the Australian government announced.
At least two more team members applied to stay later in the day, according to local media.
However, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said on Wednesday that one of them had subsequently changed her mind.
Burke said in parliament on Wednesday that he had since been advised that one of the group “had spoken to some of the team mates that left and changed their mind.”
“She had been advised by her team mates and encouraged to contact the Iranian embassy,” he said.
“As a result of that, it meant the Iranian embassy now knew the location of where everybody was.”
The remaining players have been moved from a safe house to another location, he said.
