Lijnders’ City switch came with a call to Klopp
Pep Lijnders has lifted the lid on the moment he decided to join Manchester City, revealing he sought — and received — Jürgen Klopp’s blessing before accepting a role as Pep Guardiola’s assistant.
Speaking about the move, Lijnders said he felt compelled to speak to his long-time manager first, given his deep ties to Liverpool and the intensity of the rivalry City and the Reds cultivated during Klopp’s Anfield reign. The Dutch coach added that Klopp not only encouraged him to take the opportunity, but did so in typically dry fashion.
“Jurgen said he would take the job if I didn’t,” Lijnders explained, referencing Klopp’s joke that he would personally step in if his former assistant let the chance pass.
From Anfield to the Etihad
Lijnders spent close to a decade on Liverpool’s coaching staff, largely as Klopp’s right-hand man. Over that period, Liverpool and Manchester City repeatedly pushed each other to the limit in the Premier League, with title races that were often decided by the smallest margins. Twice, Liverpool finished as runners-up to City as the two sides set a pace few others could match.
Those years of direct competition made Lijnders’ decision far from straightforward. He admitted there was internal debate when the approach from City arrived, not because of any doubt over Guardiola’s calibre, but because of what the move represented given his Liverpool past.
Ultimately, Klopp’s message cut through. Lijnders took it as a reminder that elite coaching careers are built on learning, bravery and the willingness to test yourself at the highest level — even if that means stepping into unfamiliar colours.
New chapter under Guardiola as City prepare for Spurs
Lijnders joined Guardiola’s staff this summer and is expected to be alongside City’s manager for Sunday’s trip to Tottenham.
Guardiola, however, did not attend Friday’s press conference, with City citing “personal reasons” for the absence. The team’s preparations continue with a demanding fixture on the horizon, and Lijnders’ arrival adds further pedigree to a coaching group already stacked with experience.
For City, the appointment is a notable statement: recruiting a figure steeped in Liverpool’s methodology and day-to-day standards during one of the most competitive eras in English football. For Lijnders, it is a chance to work at close quarters with a manager he has crossed paths with repeatedly on the biggest domestic stage — this time from the same technical area.
The Liverpool connection will inevitably frame the narrative around his new job, but Lijnders’ account makes one thing clear: the final nudge came from the man he spent years alongside, who urged him not to overthink a rare opening in the modern game.
