Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was among the first to congratulate Jurgen Klopp on Liverpool’s Champions League final triumph after calling his Premier League rival.
Klopp finally ended his Champions League hoodoo by winning the trophy at the third attempt as Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi secured a 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
As Liverpool players, staff and fans enjoyed the wild celebrations inside the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Klopp received a call from his domestic adversary to congratulate the Reds on their European triumph, demonstrating the respect that lies between the two long-term rivals that stems back to their days as Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich managers.
But a jubilant Klopp would not let the moment pass without having some fun with it, joking that the triumph vindicated Liverpool’s former City physio Lee Nobes for swapping the Etihad Stadium for Anfield.
“A second ago I spoke to Pep Guardiola on the phone,” Klopp said. “Our head physio worked for Manchester City at the start of the year but he wanted to win the Champions League... no, it's a joke!”
Joking aside, Klopp revealed what the pair really said to each other.
“We promised each other that we will kick each other's butts again next season,” he added. “We will go for everything and see what we get.
“Getting 97 points in the Premier League and winning the Champions League is an unbelievable long way to go and we did it. That's incredible.
“Now we've won something, we will carry on. We will win things. That is big. I am really happy.”
