Pep Guardiola makes brutally honest Jurgen Klopp comment at Real Madrid's expense

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Pep Guardiola has paid the ultimate tribute to Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool after Real Madrid knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League for a third successive season

Pep Guardiola speaks at a press conference(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola maintains that Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool presented the greatest test of his managerial career, despite Real Madrid eliminating Manchester City from the Champions League for a third consecutive campaign.

Madrid defeated Man City 5-1 on aggregate in this year's round of 16, almost exactly 13 months after their 6-3 victory across two legs in last season's knockout phase play-offs, having also triumphed via a penalty shootout two years prior.

The two sides have now met in five straight seasons, with Man City's sole triumph arriving back in 2023, when Guardiola led them to their first ever Champions League title.

That 5-1 aggregate win came barely 12 months after a 6-5 defeat. Their elimination cost them the opportunity to face Klopp's Reds in Paris.

Guardiola has encountered Madrid more frequently than any other opponent in the Champions League with Man City, 13 times altogether. Yet Klopp's Liverpool remains regarded as the tougher proposition.

When a Spanish journalist asked whether the fixtures against Madrid represented the biggest challenge of his career, Guardiola responded: "No," reports the Liverpool Echo.

Pep Guardiola has insisted Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool has been his biggest test(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)

He continued, as translated from Spanish into English during the post-match press conference: "Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool was my biggest challenge, you almost don't realize what it was like to face Liverpool."

Klopp holds Guardiola in similarly high regard. He filmed a video message ahead of the Catalan manager's 1,000th match in management.

Guardiola was told: "Pep, my friend, welcome to the 1000 club. I can't believe you look that young, and you already reached this absolutely incredible landmark.

"Probably I don't have to say that I reached it 81 games ago. But that's probably the only time when I arrived before you, so it's all good.

"I said it a million times, it was a pleasure, and it was an honour to face you that often during our careers. Most difficult games, but anyhow, the games I enjoyed the most because you were and you are an inspiration to all of us.

"The way you understand football is pretty much second to none. The desire you show every day is absolutely outstanding.

"So, yeah, another legendary club you are a member of now, onto the next 1000. OK, all of the best, speak soon and have a wonderful celebration, maybe you'll celebrate it with a glass of red wine."