Jurgen Klopp congratulated Pep Guardiola ahead of his 1000th game in football management, calling the Manchester City boss “an inspiration” to managers. The 54-year-old will reach the milestone when his team host reigning champions Liverpool at Eastlands in the Premier League on Sunday.Klopp and Guardiola engaged in a legendary rivalry in Germany and England before the former Reds boss retired in 2024.The German tactician has inflicted more defeats on his counterpart that any other head coach in the game, beating his Bayern Munich and City sides 12 times with Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.Jurgen Klopp sends heartfelt message to Guardiola ahead of 1000th game"It was a pleasure and an honour to face you" Jurgen Klopp pays tribute to Pep Guardiola reaching 1000 games in management pic.twitter.com/lMcDkSfSm7— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 8, 2025“Welcome to the 1000 club,” Klopp said via a video message on Sky Sports. “I can’t believe you are that young and already reached this incredible landmark.“I probably don’t have to say that I already reached it 81 games ago, it’s probably the only time I arrived before you, but it’s all good, it’s all good.“I’ve said it a million times: it was a pleasure and an honour to face you that often during our career. Most difficult games but the games I enjoyed the most because you were and you are an inspiration to all of us. The way you understand football is second to none. The desire you show everyday is absolutely outstanding.“Another legendary club you are a member of now, onto the next 1000!” (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Guardiola admitted that he misses Klopp and credited his former adversary with pushing him to make him a better coach.“If I were to choose one rival for this personal milestone, that I want to share with many people, they would be the best,” the Catalan said.“I’ve been longer than ever in this country. Of course Barcelona, the impact on my life as a ballboy, football player, manager, and so on is obvious and Bayern was an incredible step as well.“But Liverpool, especially with Jurgen, have been the biggest rivals in this country and it could not be better, to be honest. So destiny decided that and it’s nice to live it.“In terms of Jurgen’s side or Pep’s side, I think we respected each other. I had the feeling that Jurgen gave me a lot and I miss him.“He gave me a lot in sense of, to beat that guy, how much I have to think and work and do it, to make it better.”Read – Liverpool boost as Isak in training ahead of Man City clashSee Also – Power Rankings: Impregnable Arsenal on the upFollow The Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTokThe post ‘An inspiration’ – Klopp sends heartfelt message to Guardiola ahead of 1000th game first appeared on The Football Faithful.