Jurgen Klopp makes Erling Haaland to Man City admission and defends Pep Guardiola comments

10.05.2022 - 11:41 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Jurgen Klopp says Erling Haaland will make Manchester City stronger in their battle with Liverpool for silverware, domestically and in Europe.

City are closing in on signing striker Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, with reports suggesting he passed a medical in Brussels on Monday. As talk of Haaland's imminent arrival increased earlier in the day, Klopp was asked about how Haaland would impact the title race in his press conference ahead of Liverpool's clash with Aston Villa.

"I signed a new contract knowing City will not stop developing," Klopp told Sky Sports. "It's not about City to define if we can be happy or not. It's about us and what we can make of it.

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"You have so many opportunities and so many different ways to win a football game. We have to find just one. It's possible obviously and you can do that — you face City in two, three competitions, Champions League — six times a year, more often than all the rest!

"We play against all the other teams, yes. But if Erling Haaland goes there that will not weaken them. Definitely not. I know in the moment that other people talk about money, but this transfer will set new levels. Let me say this!"

Klopp also expanded on Pep Guardiola's comments that 'everyone' in England supports Liverpool in the title race. He had said on Monday that Guardiola may have said it in the heat of the moment, and added that he does not agree with the idea.

Now, he says Liverpool should take the comments as a compliment and defended Guardiola and all managers who conduct multiple interviews straight after a game.

"I think we should take it as a backhanded compliment if he means it