Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen has delivered his verdict on whether he’d rather play for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp or Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola – kind of…
The Balon d’Or winner was pitched the incredibly tough question by former Wales international Robbie Savage, and responded with an answer straight down the middle.
“They’re head and shoulders above anyone else, I feel, at the moment,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “I think you’ve got one: is very tactically aware, studious, and that’s Pep Guardiola.
“The other manager, Jurgen Klopp, as a player how good would it be to play for him? You’d want to run through a brick wall for him, He looks like he’s everyone’s mate. For fun, for enjoying it, I’d probably say Jurgen Klopp. For improving as a player, potentially Pep Guardiola.”
A (not so simple) question from @RobbieSavage8…
Would you rather play for Pep Guardiola or Jürgen Klopp? ?@themichaelowen can't make his mind up! ? pic.twitter.com/EXxr8dJwZP
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) November 8, 2019
OPINION
Obviously you can’t go wrong with either man. Guardiola and Klopp are undoubtedly the two finest managers in the Premier League, and arguably the two best in world football. Really, who could you put up with them at the moment? Zinedine Zidane? A Champions League specialist, sure, but there are suspicions his success in his first stint at Real Madrid was fuelled by Cristiano Ronaldo. Carlo Ancelotti? He’s never quite had the sustained success that Klopp and, certainly, Guardiola has enjoyed. In terms of how they are performing at the moment, then Klopp and Guardiola are definitely the two best. As for who you’d prefer to play for, Owen has decided to sit firmly on the fence. Yes, it would likely be more fun to work under Klopp. The German is such an engaging, infectious character that you couldn’t help but enjoy your football. However, Guardiola is capable of getting the very best out of his players, a la Raheem Sterling. So you can’t go wrong with either, but perhaps Klopp can do what Pep does but make it more fun, as well.
