The last meeting was less than a week ago when the two probably world’s best coaches and their teams played against each other again. This time in the FA Cup. It’s about the final. The appropriate place: Wembley.
Manchester City and Liverpool FC showed once again last Sunday that they are the best teams in England, probably even in Europe. Emphatically. The racy, intense top game that more than lived up to its name ended 2:2.
Unlike in the Bundesliga, for example, when the rather unequal duel between Bayern and Dortmund becomes the “German Clasico”, you can never be sure who will leave the pitch as the winner in England’s top game. A measly point separates both in the table. More eye level is not possible.
Even balance between Klopp and Guardiola
This is also reflected in the balance sheets of the coaches: Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola. They have faced each other 24 times, including the duels with Dortmund and Bayern. Both have nine wins each, plus six draws. But everything is just a snapshot. A very short one. No week will be over when the two face each other again this Saturday (kick-off 4:30 p.m.).
Then at Wembley, FA Cup semi-finals. A knockout game in the oldest club competition in the world. The carpet for the next football festival has been rolled out. And this time there will have to be a winner. But whoever takes the lead in a personal duel cannot sit back for long.
Because the next meeting is already vaguely on the horizon. Even if the two don’t call each other (original sound Guardiola): They probably wouldn’t have any objections to another rendezvous at the end of May. Then in Paris for the Champions League final. The first meeting of the two best in the final of Europe’s biggest competition – it would only be logical. Only Real Madrid (against City) and Villarreal (Liverpool) can prevent it at all.
Klopp: “It won’t be terribly boring”
But first see you at Wembley. Klopp has already won a title there with the “Reds” this season. The League Cup against Thomas Tuchel FC Chelsea. Another recurring cracker of two character heads in the coaching zone. He is also possible in the FA Cup final. Chelsea play Crystal Palace in the semi-finals (Sunday, 5.30 p.m.). But the “sky blues” are waiting before the “blues”. Klopp cannot say whether his team will throw the sky blues out. But promise at least one thing: “It won’t be terribly boring, I’m sure of it.”
