Mansion Sports – Pep Lijnders revealed that Jurgen Klopp was willing to take his position as Manchester City assistant manager if he declined the opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola.

Lijnders, who spent several years working alongside Klopp at Liverpool, decided to move to Manchester City last summer after receiving an offer to coach at the Etihad Stadium.

The decision represented a major step in his career, considering the modern rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester City.

However, support from his former coach made Lijnders more confident in accepting the offer.

Lijnders Returns to an Assistant Role After Failing as a Manager

Lijnders first joined Liverpool in 2014 as a development coach when Brendan Rodgers was still serving as manager.

After Jurgen Klopp was appointed in 2015, he became one of the key members of the first-team coaching staff.

In the middle of the 2017–2018 season, Lijnders was entrusted with the role of manager at NEC Nijmegen in the Dutch second division.

However, he was dismissed at the end of that season and returned to Liverpool the following summer.

He then served as Klopp’s assistant until the legendary coach left the club in 2024.

After parting ways with Liverpool, Lijnders was appointed manager of Red Bull Salzburg ahead of the 2024–2025 season.

However, he was dismissed in December of the same year due to poor performances in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Klopp: “I Will Take the Assistant Job at Man City If You Do Not”

In the summer of 2025, Lijnders received an offer to become Manchester City’s assistant manager, which opened the opportunity to work with Guardiola in addition to his previous experience with Klopp.

However, the rivalry between City and Liverpool made him hesitant to accept the offer, leading him to seek advice from his former coach at Anfield.

When asked by journalists whether the decision was difficult, Lijnders replied that he could provide either a diplomatic answer or an honest one.

He stated that since Pep Guardiola contacted him and explained his vision for the team, as well as demonstrated strong trust even before technical discussions took place, the decision became much easier.

He also emphasized that ten years with Liverpool could not be forgotten easily. Nevertheless, he felt proud to join a club as great as Manchester City, which has been highly successful over the past decade and is led by a coach who has shaped the face of modern football.

According to Lijnders, when he spoke with Jurgen Klopp, his former coach stated firmly that if he did not accept the offer, Klopp himself would take the assistant position at City.

Lijnders also stated that returning to Anfield would be a very special moment, especially for his family. However, his mindset remains focused on winning and striving to defeat Liverpool.

Klopp Linked with a Return to Coaching at Real Madrid

Klopp previously stated that his decision to leave Liverpool in 2024 was due to exhaustion.

After departing from Anfield, he assumed the role of Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull and has not returned to touchline management. He even indicated that he might not coach again.

Nevertheless, Klopp has been linked with the Real Madrid managerial position following the dismissal of Xabi Alonso in mid-January. Alvaro Arbeloa was appointed as interim coach, but Los Blancos are expected to make another change before the 2026–2027 season. Klopp’s name has continued to be mentioned by Spanish media as a potential candidate.

Meanwhile, Klopp is scheduled to return to Liverpool as Sir Kenny Dalglish’s assistant in a legends charity match against Borussia Dortmund in March.

Lijnders Prepares Manchester City for the Tottenham Match

In Manchester, Lijnders, together with Guardiola, is preparing Manchester City for their weekend match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Although City has won their last two visits to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League, the North London club still holds an impressive record against Guardiola’s team.

Since Guardiola’s arrival in England in 2016, all six of Tottenham’s permanent managers, namely Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte, Ange Postecoglou, and Thomas Frank, have each defeated his team at least once. This makes the match a unique challenge for Manchester City.