‘I asked permission from Jurgen Klopp' – Pep Guardiola receives blessing from Liverpool legend over new Man City arrival
Manchester City's recruitment of former Liverpool assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders came with the blessing of former manager Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola has revealed.
Lijnders arrives to Manchester as Guardiola's new assistant coach after a decorated spell as assistant manager to Brendan Rogers and Jurgen Klopp at Anfield following his arrival to England from Holland in 2014.
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The Dutchman has also seen James French join Guardiola's staff as set piece coach, with Kolo Toure also lending a hand to the Manchester City manager for the FIFA Club World Cup campaign, which will see City face Wydad AC in their opening fixture on Wednesday.
The new coaching setup at the Etihad Stadium comes after the departures of Carlos Vicens, Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez at the end of their respective contracts, which resembles the major revamp occurring in Guardiola's squad.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, Marcus Bettinelli, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki have all been signed in time for the Club World Cup in what has been a major statement of intent from newly-appointed director of football Hugo Viana, who has replaced Txiki Begiristain.
Speaking in his first press conference of the 2025-26 season, Guardiola has offered a personal thanks to the three coaches that left his backroom staff set-up following the conclusion of the previous campaign.
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'Enormous thank you to Juanma (Lillo), Inigo (Dominguez) from the seasons we had together. And Carlos Vicens as well, like Mikel (Arteta) and Enzo (Maresca), going in his own career, going to Braga – we wish him the best of luck and all the best,' said Guardiola.
'And I try to bring people to help us, not just me but the team, to try to win.'
It wouldn't be a stretch to admit that Guardiola's squad have needed some fresh faces in the dressing room and amongst the backroom staff, with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak admitting so himself in his end-of-season review that the club should have been more aggressive in last summer's transfer window in hinssight.
Guardiola added: 'There was opportunity of Pep (Lijnders) and James (French), and Kolo Toure was already in the U-18's and we saw him working, and has an incredible reference.
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'And these people are going to help us to make a good season.'
On the subject of recruiting Lijnders in particular, Pep Guardiola revealed the involvement of Liverpool's legendary former manager Jurgen Klopp in approving of the Dutchman's switch to the Etihad Stadium following their hugely successful spell together at Anfield.
'We had a conversation with Jurgen (Klopp) but not about Pep Lijnders,' Guardiola said. 'It was, as always, a long conversation, and in a certain moment I suggested I was thinking about Pep (Lijnders) and he (Klopp) gave me his opinion that was, of course, so high – his right-hand (man) in one of the most successful periods in Liverpool.
'After I took time to decide, reflect. I wasn't in direct touch with Pep (Lijnders) because he was in Salzburg and his last experience was Liverpool (for) many years. I asked permission from Jurgen (Klopp) because I didn't want to interfere.
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'I said, 'Will it be a problem to talk to him?' and he said absolutely not. So I talked, we talked a little, and in one or two days, we decided let's try; I'm a fortunate guy! All the assistants I've had in my career, wow! Everybody helped me incredibly, I've been so, so fortunate.
'They make me a better, better manager, and I'm pretty sure Kolo (Toure) and especially Pep (Lijnders) will help me. At the end it's a question of back and forth; his knowledge, I drain, and every day since we met together, we talk a lot about tactics, football, training sessions – he's been so inspiring.
'I'm really pleased and we'll see what happens in future.'
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