Former Manchester City and Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has claimed Jurgen Klopp is a better manager than Pep Guardiola because he’s achieved success on a much smaller budget.
Klopp and Guardiola are arguably the top two coaches in world football at this moment in time, having turned Liverpool and Manchester City into the best sides in the world over the last few years.
The last few seasons have seen both sides going toe to toe on numerous fronts, and this year is no different.
The two are currently battling it out at the top of the Premier League table, while there is also a chance they will meet each other in the Champions League final.
They’ve also recently met in the FA Cup semi-final, with Liverpool coming out on top of that clash in a thrilling affair.
Their ongoing battle has naturally seen discussion of who is the better manager, but for Hamann, that’s not even a debate.
“I don’t understand the hype surrounding Guardiola,” he told T-Online.
“Guardiola is without question a good coach; it’s just his record with Manchester City that doesn’t speak for him.
“He was brought in to win the Champions League, but in six years, he has only been to the final once – and he completely messed it up. Nevertheless, many observers on the island speak of the ‘Godfather of Managers’. I can’t do anything with these eulogies.
The debate over Klopp and Guardiaola is likely to be one that will rage for years to come, particularly after the German extended his contract with Liverpool until 2026 this week.
In the meantime, the focus is on which side will be more successful this season, with both competing on all fronts at the end of the campaign.
There is currently only one point separating them at the top of the Premier League table, with City sitting on 80 points and Liverpool one behind on 79.
It’s set up a tight finish for the last five games of the campaign, but Hamann believes it is the Reds who will triumph.
“The fact that the title race in England has once again become really exciting is less down to Manchester City’s inability and more down to Liverpool’s brilliance,” he added.
“If Liverpool win their remaining games, they will be champions. Because my prediction is that City will not win at least once.
“Liverpool’s great strength is that they can decide games after 60 minutes and use the remaining half hour to spare three or four players.
“Those forces that can be released by doing that in a final sprint can become the deciding factor.”
