Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have now thrived for a better part of their managerial careers. Pep announced himself to the managerial world with an outstanding stint at FC Barcelona, where he enjoyed his playing career as well. While Klopp came to the limelight with his eventful time at Borussia Dortmund. Over the course of time, both have won numerous silverwares and played some exciting football. Pep and Klopp have their ideologies clear and have imposed them successfully on every club they have managed.
Pep’s Manchester City and Klopp’s Liverpool have now been pushing each other fiercely for the last six years. The two locked horns in the Premier League for the first time in the 2016/17 season. The two drastically changed the face of the Premier League, and have won a combined 4 league titles in the last 6 seasons. But Guardiola has enjoyed more success domestically, winning 3 titles out of those 4. We take a look at who comes out as a better man among Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
Pep Guardiola vs Jurgen Klopp: Premier League
If we look at the titles, it’s clear that Guardiola has given a better output. Three league titles since joining Manchester City. On the other hand, Klopp lifted the premier league title on only one occasion throughout his six complete seasons. But of course, it’s always more than the titles. Other stats are to be looked upon as well to assess their qualities.
Guardiola has managed 219 premier league games, with a mammoth win percentage of 73.9%. Klopp has been in charge of 249 premier league games, recording a win percentage of 61.3%. The Spaniard gives a better win percentage here. Moreover, Pep has won 2.34 points per game, whereas Klopp has managed only 1.68. Clearly, Guardiola outshines Klopp here, as he has done in the league titles won.
One stat where both match each other is the goals scored by their teams. Both City and Liverpool have put in 534 goals under Guardiola and Klopp respectively. But we have to take into consideration that Pep has managed 30 games less than Klopp. However, one more interesting fact is that Pep Guardiola has never finished outside the top four with City, whereas Klopp endured a turbulent start to his premier league managerial career, finishing 8th in his debut season with the Reds. So as far given the premier league, Guardiola is a better man over the 38 games than Klopp.
The Domestic Cups
Klopp won his first League Cup title with Liverpool last month. And Guardiola missed out on a fifth consecutive League Cup title when City were knocked out in the fourth round this season. Yes, the City manager has won a massive 4 League Cup to Klopp’s single triumph.
The FA Cup is the trophy that has eluded multiple wins at the hands of both Guardiola and Klopp. Guardiola has won the FA Cup only once, whereas Klopp is yet to win one with Liverpool. However, either of them can win England’s oldest cup competition this season as City and Liverpool face-off in the semifinals. But all said and done, Guardiola is a clear winner here with five domestic cups to Klopp’s one.
The European Competitions
A bracket where Klopp finally outshines Guardiola. The German lifted the Champions League with Liverpool in 2019, ending a famous campaign on a high. Klopp then won the subsequent UEFA Super Cup as well as the Club World Cup. But this one trophy, the UEFA Champions League is missing from City’s trophy cabinet since their formation. A Champions League mastermind, Guardiola was expected to win the coveted trophy with Manchester City.
However, Pep is yet to deliver a Champions League trophy for City, which would also be the first in their history. Though he reached the final last season, City was downed by Chelsea who were never the favorites. Pep has managed 58 Champions League games for City, winning 38 out of them with a win percentage of 65%. Klopp has stood in for 52 Champions League games with Liverpool, winning 32 with a win percentage of 61%. Though Pep manages a better win percentage, Klopp has taken Liverpool to two Champions League finals winning one.
Given all the stats, it’s evident that Klopp only tops the European table, with a Champions League and UEFA Super Cup. But Guardiola has been consistent in the world’s toughest league with an unorthodox style of play as far as the premier league is concerned. Klopp has failed to make a mark on the domestic competitions. A premier league title and a League Cup is all he has to show for domestic wins in seven years. While Guardiola has made England his fortress with three premier leagues, four League Cups, and a FA Cup.
Guardiola may or may not win a Champions League with City, but his consistency in the Premier League is unbeatable. Klopp has never matched the same, as is evident with only one league title in the last six years. Moreover, the kind of football City play under Guardiola has often been regarded as superior to Klopp and Liverpool. Pep Guardiola ultimately wins the battle here against Jurgen Klopp as he tops most of the stats quite convincingly.
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