Klopp refuses to condemn Man City’s financial breach out of respect for Guardiola

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has refused to comment on Manchester City’s financial rules case, saying his deep respect for Pep Guardiola and the football his side have produced during the intense Premier League rivalry makes it difficult for him to comment on the matter.

An independent commission found Manchester City is guilty of serious financial violations on Tuesday. The club has denied wrongdoing and is expected to appeal the decision, with possible sanctions yet to be determined.

Klopp, whose Liverpool side twice finished just one point behind City in the Premier League title race, had previously joked that he would attend the parade if Liverpool were eventually handed back the titles due to the development of the case.

However, the German said on Wednesday that his view had changed and that he was no longer comfortable with such comments.

“I didn’t think too much about it, although of course I saw it,” Klopp told reporters.

“Also, I know what I’ve said about it in the past and I know if there’s ever a parade I’ll be there, but it doesn’t feel like that anymore.”

KNOCK ON CITY CASE

Klopp’s nine-year spell at Liverpool saw him develop one of the Premier League’s defining rivalries Guardiola and Manchester City. Both teams have repeatedly pushed themselves to extraordinary levels, with Liverpool narrowly missing out on the title twice.

Klopp said the quality of City’s football, combined with the level of competition Liverpool provided, meant he did not want to jump to conclusions about the implications of the financial case.

“My respect for Pep Guardiola and the football that was played at City during the time we played against each other… and what an opponent we proved to be at the highest level is too much for me to say now,” he said.

During Klopp’s time at Anfield, Liverpool won the Premier League and the Champions League, among other major honours, while City established themselves as one of the dominant teams in English football.

Klopp left Liverpool in 2024 after nine years in charge but remains closely associated with the club’s most successful period in the modern Premier League era.

The former Liverpool boss also stressed that the uncertainty surrounding the City case had not changed the way he viewed his former team’s achievements.

Klopp said he is happy with what Liverpool have achieved during his tenure, regardless of what ultimately happens with Manchester City.

Rather than speculate on possible penalties or whether previous Premier League results could be affected, Klopp said he preferred a legal and disciplinary process.

The city is expected to appeal the commission’s findings, meaning the ultimate implications of the case remain unresolved. Until that process is complete, Klopp has indicated he would prefer to focus on football and the rivalry that defined his years of competition with Guardiola’s Manchester City.

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