
City Xtra
·22 de octubre de 2025
Jurgen Klopp breaks silence on Pep Lijnders’ Manchester City move to join Pep Guardiola

In partnership with
Yahoo sportsCity Xtra
·22 de octubre de 2025
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has opened up on his assistant coach at Anfield, Pep Lijnders making a move to Manchester City in the summer.
While the move somewhat raised eyebrows among supporters due to the rivalry shared between the two Premier League giants during Klopp’s tenure, the German coach has now offered a warm and thoughtful endorsement of his long-time colleague’s decision.
Lijnders’ move to work alongside Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium was seen by many as one of the more surprising appointments of the summer, uniting two of football’s most tactically innovative coaches under the same roof.
Pep Lijnders had been a key part of Klopp’s Liverpool revolution, helping shape the club’s high-intensity playing style and developing a strong reputation for his player management, analytical detail, and enthusiasm on the training ground. Lijnders briefly managed RB Salzburg before accepting a new challenge at City, with his arrival viewed as part of Guardiola’s effort to inject fresh energy and new ideas into the club.
Lijnders’ appointment also reflects City’s long-term commitment to maintaining an elite backroom environment as Pep Guardiola moves toward the final years of his contract, currently running until 2027. The Dutchman’s deep understanding of pressing systems, transitional play, and youth development was key to City’s decision.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Diary of a CEO podcast, Jurgen Klopp issued complimentary approval of his former Liverpool assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders joining Manchester City in the summer to work alongside Pep Guardiola.
“Absolutely no problem, I like it! I like both Peps, that’s how it is, no problem with that,” Klopp told host Steven Bartlett of Lijnders’ move to the Etihad Stadium.
“I worked together with Pep Lijnders, he was an inspiration for me every day when we worked together, absolutely every day I learned a lot from him. And Pep Guardiola, I couldn’t respect a manager more.”
Klopp continued, “And when they asked me, like a bit [shy], ‘What do you think? Can we?’ Of course you can! Come on, find a guy who worked together with Pep Guardiola AND Jurgen Klopp; I would read that book!
“And Pep Guardiola knew exactly what he was looking for, he wanted exactly this kind of spark, fire, and Pep Lijnders has that. He is an extreme well of energy, so I’m happy for them both!”
Klopp’s comments highlight the deep respect and professional admiration shared between two of the sport’s most influential modern managers. For Guardiola, the addition of Lijnders could prove to be one of his smartest backroom adjustments yet.
As City continue to evolve tactically after another demanding campaign, Lijnders’ fresh perspective and experience working under Klopp’s high-pressing, emotionally charged system may help bring a new dimension to Guardiola’s methods.
Looking ahead, Lijnders’ ongoing integration into the Etihad Stadium setup will be closely watched – both for the tactical tweaks he helps introduce and the potential narrative it builds for the future.
With Pep Guardiola’s contract running until 2027, some have tentatively floated the idea of Lijnders one day emerging as a candidate to continue the Catalan’s legacy at Manchester City, given his elite coaching pedigree and shared footballing philosophy.