Pep Guardiola struggled to hold back the tears when responding to question about with Jurgen Klopp, following the German's final match as Liverpool manager.
The Manchester City boss saw hi steam seal a six Premier League title in seven years on Sunday after a 3-1 win over West Ham at the Etihad.
Klopp's Liverpool have been the only team to disrupt that monopoly and Guardiola was full of emotion as he paid tribute to his great rival as he goes onto pastures new.
'I will miss him a lot,' Guardiola said. 'Jurgen has been a really important part of my life. He's taken me to another level as manager.
'I think we respect each other incredibly. I have the feeling that he will be back. I just want to say thank you so much for his words.
'But he knows perfectly that behind me there are a lot of things that this club provides and gives to me.'
On Friday Klopp had said that the Spaniard is was the 'best manager in the world'. He added: 'If you put any other manager in that club, they don't win the league four times in a row. That's down to him and his team.'
The Klopp-Guardiola rivalry was marked by their team's unbelievable consistency of results.
The pair's sides have amassed the four highest points totals in Premier League history and four longest winning streaks.
As City were celebrating a record fourth-straight top-flight title, the Reds were bidding an emotional farewell to the German manager following a 2-0 win against Wolves.
Jarrell Quansah had the honour of scoring the final goal of Klopp's tenure but, in truth, the match was merely a prelude to the emotional, occasionally , send off.
Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold could not hold back the tears after embracing Jurgen Klopp following his final game in charge.
After embracing all of his players, Klopp spoke to the Anfield crowd and encouraged them to get behind incoming boss Arne Slot, who revealed on Friday that he will be replacing Klopp next season.
Klopp then carried out his trademark fist-bumps in front of the Kop as he took the adulation of the fans.
Klopp bows out having led Liverpool to third place in the Premier League, with his team finishing nine points behind champions Manchester City in his final season at the helm.
Grindlewald333
611
Great coach, great rivals, no words can describe Klopp. 👏 🫡
Qaa5833b
514
RESPECT each other is the most important thing no matter who you are. Thank BOSS will miss you til the end of my time on earth. PEACE
Ellajonnez
443
What a GREAT Coach... I will personally miss you...You brought lite back to Liverpool and made us believe again...
CitizenOfFootball_FC
403
no matter the rivalry, These two coaches have written down their names on the fiercest rivalry.. I salute jurgen for giving us a good rival and a good atmosphere in the pl
Nescdilmy
361
The two great coaches (Pep and Klopp) is like a two great players (Ronaldo and Messi).
TiyanjaneChalamwendo
341
as city our bitter rivals are Liverpool not Arsenal
Aleksy_VanOostrum
246
My favourite manager and the best of them all. Jurgen Klopp, thank you for all those beautiful years❤️
vjIndia
245
Klopp made the statement of Pep winning 4 times in a row with much confidence before the final game was even played bcoz he knew no way city were going to bottle the league on the final day.
penaeirs
173
In ten years playing against each other (3 years in Germany and 7 years in EPL) Pep took the cup 9 times. Klopp would have won more cups were it not for Pep. Respect to these two great coaches
Daphoenix23
133
I wish Liverpool won the league as a farewell tribute to klopp… It was after Liverpool fell off the title race that I supported MAN CITY to win it again, rather then than Arsenal dogs barking all over… Farewell Kloppi