Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had lofty praise for Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
The pair apparently have a good relationship despite the rivalry between the two clubs.
Klopp famously woke Ferguson up in the early hours after Liverpool won the Premier League last summer by phoning him during the team’s celebrations.
After Klopp was named the LMA Manager of the Year, Ferguson jokingly congratulated him and said: “I will forgive you for waking me up at 3:30am to tell me you won the league.”
It isn’t known how many times the pair have actually met, with Ferguson still keen to attend United matches at Old Trafford whenever possible.
But Klopp has revealed that he still remembers the first time he met the legendary Scotsman.
He joked that meeting Ferguson was like meeting the Pope, such was his admiration for the former United manager.
“It was long ago and I’m not sure if he remembers it still, but I remember it forever because it was for me in this moment like meeting the Pope if you want!” Klopp said.
Speaking to BT, Klopp opened up on his late-night interaction with Ferguson after the Reds won the title, and spoke further of his friendship with the Old Trafford icon.
"The problem was that I came back late in my room that night and I couldn't sleep immediately so I went through the messages I got and one of them was from Alex Ferguson," Klopp said.
"I just replied in a very polite way I think. It was about 3.30am-4am and I didn't expect him to have his phone next to his bed.
“I didn't want to wake him up. If that happened then sorry Alex!
"Since then we have not been in contact. He is still the former Man United manager and I don't think he wants to talk to me too much about the success of Liverpool.
“He respects it but it's not his favourite thing to watch on television."
