Pep Lijnders displays on Jurgen Klopp relationship after changing into Pep Guardiola's assistant
Pep Lijnders has develop into Pep Guardiola's new assistant at Manchester Metropolis, having beforehand labored carefully with Jurgen Klopp throughout two spells because the German's assistant at Liverpool
Pep Guardiola’s determination to usher in Pep Lijnders as his assistant at Manchester Metropolis could possibly be a match made in heaven – or hell. Lijnders’ new boss has a fame for being a supervisor who at all times listens intently to the recommendation given to him by his backroom employees earlier than ignoring it utterly.
However Lijnders, the Dutchman who was such an essential sounding board for Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool throughout a six-year interval by which the German turned the one bulwark between Guardiola and complete Premier League domination, isn’t somebody who accepts being ignored.
When the 42-year-old was invited to return as Klopp’s right-hand man in the summertime of 2018, simply six months after he walked out of Anfield to develop into head coach of NEC Nijmegen, he insisted he would solely settle for the provide if he was given extra duty.
Klopp did what Guardiola should now do on the Etihad by delegating duties to Lijnders that will have usually come below his remit. A kind of jobs was to handle Liverpool within the Carabao Cup – together with a tie towards Metropolis on the Etihad in December 2022 by which Guardiola’s crew prevailed 3-2.
Lijnders defined: “When Liverpool requested me again after NEC, I’d by no means have taken the job if I had simply been supplied the prospect to return as No 2. I used to be given much more duty.
READ MORE: Ederson 'reaches settlement' on gorgeous Man Metropolis exit as substitute keeper pickedREAD MORE: Jack Grealish ready to coach away from Man Metropolis team-mates forward of switch exit
“Jurgen made me do press conferences, match discussions – principally every little thing he did himself. He at all times stated ‘we do that job collectively’ – and that’s actually the way it was.”
It’s understood that when he made a name to Klopp asking the previous Liverpool supervisor whether or not Lijnders can be match alongside him on the Etihad, the German warned that he would rapidly develop into stressed if he was requested to do nothing extra strenuous than put out the cones for coaching.
Guardiola is a infamous management freak. The churn of backroom coaches throughout his 9 seasons on the Etihad is eye-opening contemplating Metropolis have received six titles in that point.
Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca had been daring sufficient to face their floor – and at the moment are the respective managers of Arsenal and Chelsea. On the finish of final season, even after shedding the revered Carlos Vicens to Portuguese membership Braga, Guardiola pressed forward together with his plan to deliver new voices into his membership.
Each Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez departed, with each males nonetheless unable to talk English with sufficient authority to converse freely with Metropolis’s gamers.
They’ve been changed by former Metropolis defender Kolo Toure, a vastly well-liked determine on the Etihad after returning to the membership to work with the Below-18s crew, and former Liverpool set-piece coach James French.
Nevertheless it was Lijnders who was always in Guardiola’s ear throughout the Membership World Cup this summer time and the hope is that he’ll re-energise Metropolis’s squad with new concepts after a season which noticed them limp to 3rd within the Premier League and lose to Crystal Palace within the FA Cup Ultimate.
The Dutchman additionally has one thing to show after being sacked as coach of Austrian membership RB Salzburg final December – only a few weeks earlier than Klopp was formally unveiled as Purple Bull ’s head of world soccer.
One in every of Lijnders closing acts in his final week at Anfield final yr was to face on a barstool in a lodge bar to sing ‘You’ll By no means Stroll Alone’ in entrance of a gaggle of Liverpool followers. He may be suggested to be taught the phrases to ‘Blue Moon.’
Article continues beneath
Be part of our new WhatsApp group and obtain your each day dose of Mirror Soccer content material. We additionally deal with our group members to particular provides, promotions, and adverts from us and our companions. If you happen to don't like our group, you possibly can take a look at any time you want. If you happen to're curious, you possibly can learn our Privateness Discover.
Sky Sports activities discounted Premier League and EFL packageThis article comprises affiliate hyperlinks, we are going to obtain a fee on any gross sales we generate from it. Study extra
£43£35SkyGet the deal right here
Sky has slashed the worth of its Important TV and Sky Sports activities bundle forward of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and providing greater than 1,400 reside matches throughout the Premier League, EFL and extra.
Sky will present not less than 215 reside Premier League video games subsequent season, a rise of as much as 100 extra.