90min

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp's all-time combined XI

  • Final Premier League meeting between Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp to take place on Sunday
  • Two legendary managers have been able to call upon the world's best players
  • Building a combined XI of the players they've coached in their esteemed careers

By Sean Walsh

Two legends of the game
Two legends of the game / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images, Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

For one last time in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp will duel on Sunday.

Klopp's impending Liverpool exit and pledge not to manage another English side means this will be the end of the road for the two legendary managers in football's biggest league.

There have been some stellar players to have featured under Guardiola and Klopp, particularly as direct rivals to one another.

But who squeezes into the best combined XI? We at 90min have an idea..

GK: Manuel Neuer

FBL-GER-ESP-BUNDESLIGA-BAYERN MUNICH-TRAINING-GUARDIOLA
Neuer was the perfect goalkeeper for Guardiola / CHRISTOF STACHE/GettyImages
  • Played under: Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich
  • Honourable mentions: Alisson, Ederson

If you combined Alisson's all-conquering and all-fearsome shot-stopping with Ederson's phenomenal range of passing and composure, then you'd get prime Manuel Neuer. That's why he's the first pick in this team.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold

Jurgen Klopp, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Klopp nurtured Alexander-Arnold into one of the world's best players / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages
  • Played under: Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
  • Honourable mentions: Kyle Walker, Philipp Lahm

Extra kudos needs to be bestowed upon Klopp not just for giving Trent Alexander-Arnold the platform to become one of the most unique and potent right-backs in history, but for bringing him through from the academy.

CB: Carles Puyol

Barcelona's coach Josep Guardiola (R) sh
Puyol peaked again late in his career under Guardiola / LLUIS GENE/GettyImages
  • Played under: Pep Guardiola at Barcelona
  • Honourable mentions: Ruben Dias, John Stones, Mats Hummels

The greatest leader in Barcelona history? That's one Carles Puyol, right there. He reached new heights late in his career under Guardiola's guidance.

CB: Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk, Jurgen Klopp
Klopp fought hard to bring in Van Dijk / Nigel French/Allstar/GettyImages
  • Played under: Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
  • Honourable mentions: Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique, Vincent Kompany

A lot of people were taken aback when Liverpool pulled the trigger on a £75m deal to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton, but he's gone on to become one of the most influential transfers in the Reds' storied history.

LB: Andy Robertson

Jurgen Klopp, Andy Robertson
Robertson was initially signed as a squad player / Robin Jones/GettyImages
  • Played under: Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
  • Honourable mentions: David Alaba, Eric Abidal

There's a great irony in Klopp not caring too much about defending for much of his managerial career and still ending up with three defenders in this combined backline.

While Van Dijk cost Liverpool a whopping £75m, Andy Robertson came in for a more modest £8m and initially served as understudy to Alberto Moreno. Yeah, funny.

DM: Sergio Busquets

Barcelona's coach Josep Guardiola (R) ta
Busquets became a legend under Guardiola's tutelage / LLUIS GENE/GettyImages
  • Played under: Pep Guardiola at Barcelona
  • Honourable mentions: Rodri, Xabi Alonso

Obviously the winner of the three-way fight between Spanish defensive midfielders is Sergio Busquets. Rodri's still got a few more years to build his case, however.

CM: Xavi

Pep Guardiola, Xavi Hernandez
Reunited as managers / Alex Caparros/GettyImages
  • Played under: Pep Guardiola at Barcelona
  • Honourable mentions: Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Cesc Fabregas

From 2009 to 2011, Xavi finished third in Ballon d'Or voting three years running. No player has ever claimed the metaphorical bronze on more occasions.

CM: Kevin De Bruyne

Kevin De Bruyne, Pep Guardiola
A tale of two barbers / Marc Atkins/GettyImages
  • Played under: Pep Guardiola at Manchester City
  • Honourable mentions: David Silva, Thiago Alcantara, Ilkay Gundogan

Is Kevin De Bruyne - the man spurned by Guardiola at Bayern because he knew they would unite at City - the greatest midfielder in Premier League history?

Yes. Yes he is.

RW: Mohamed Salah

Mohamed Salah - Winger - Born 1992, Jürgen Klopp, Josep Guardiola
The saviour of one and tormentor of the other / Visionhaus/GettyImages
  • Played under: Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool
  • Honourable mentions: Arjen Robben, Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling

Right, don't get your undies in a twist just yet. The bloke you're looking for is on the next position down, alright?

Mohamed Salah's longevity and supremacy in Klopp's Liverpool setup cannot be ignored. The other reasonings for his inclusion will be explained below.

CF: Lionel Messi

Barcelona's coach Josep Guardiola (R) ce
Barcelona's iconic pair / JAVIER SORIANO/GettyImages
  • Played under: Pep Guardiola at Barcelona
  • Honourable mentions: Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski, Sergio Aguero

The best version of the best player of all time played as a false nine under Guardiola at Barcelona. He's not getting moved around for anyone, not even the would-be 2020 Ballon d'Or winner or the freakish Norwegian scoring machine.

LW: Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta, Josep Guardiola
Geniuses in conversation / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
  • Played under: Pep Guardiola at Barcelona
  • Honourable mentions: Sadio Mane, Franck Ribery, David Villa

Apologies to the lovers of the traditional winger and orthodox forward. We had to slip in Andres Iniesta somewhere and it made most sense for him to come in on the left.

READ THE LATEST FEATURES AND ANALYSIS FROM 90MIN

feed

Home/Features