Skip to main content

Klopp reluctant to weigh in on Man City verdict out of respect for Guardiola

Jurgen Klopp speaks to the media
Jurgen Klopp speaks to the mediaREUTERS / Angelika Warmuth

Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said his respect for Pep ⁠Guardiola and the Manchester City sides that battled Liverpool in some of the Premier League's ‌closest title races has left him reluctant to comment on ‌the fallout from City's financial rules case.

City ‌were found guilty of serious financial breaches by ‌an independent commission on Tuesday, though the club ‌have denied wrongdoing and are expected to appeal, with sanctions yet to be determined.

The 59-year-old, whose Liverpool ‌side twice finished a point behind ⁠City, had previously ‌joked that he would attend a parade if Liverpool ​were retrospectively awarded titles but said he no longer felt that way.

"I haven't ​given it much thought, even though I've seen it of course," Klopp told reporters on Wednesday.

"I ⁠also know ​what I said about it in the past and how if there's ever a parade I'll be there, but it doesn't feel like that ‌anymore.

"My respect for Pep Guardiola and the football played at City during the time we played against each other... plus what an opponent they proved to be for us at the very highest level is far too great for me to be able to say anything now."

Klopp, who led Liverpool to the Premier League ‌and Champions League titles during his nine-year spell ​at Anfield before departing in 2024, said ‌he remained comfortable with the club's achievements regardless of any future developments in the City case.

The German added that he would rather allow the process to run its course ⁠than speculate about ⁠the potential consequences for ‌City.

Manchester City Verdict

The Premier League have confirmed that Manchester City have been found guilty of all charges related to breaching financial rules.

The charges relate to breaches between the 2008/09 and 2017/18 seasons, with the club found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules.

An independent commission found that the club had artificially inflated their revenues and reduced costs by more than £900 million during the time period mentioned.

The ruling also states that Manchester City committed multiple breaches of its duties of co-operation and utmost good faith towards the Premier League, and that they were in 'significant breach' of both the Premier League and UEFA's spending limits.

Latest stories:

'We'll get through this': Ex-Man City boss Guardiola defiant after club found guilty

EXCLUSIVE: Stripping City of titles would be 'excessive' says former player Petrov

'I feel angry': People in Manchester say Man City scandal is 'shame for football'

Prefer Flashscore on GoogleSee our stories more often
AddAdd on Google