Pep Guardiola and Jürgen Klopp are two managers who have etched their names in the annals of club coach history. As managers of some of the world’s best football clubs, they have taken their footballing philosophies to great heights and enjoyed a lot of success while inspiring the next generation of up-and-comers.
Bayern Munich’s midfielder Tom Bischof was asked who he prefers among the two (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), to which he responded, “A mix of both. I like Jürgen Klopp’s emotionality. At the same time, I also know what Guardiola means to Bayern and how he has significantly contributed to the development of this club. I’ll take Pep’s knowledge and Klopp’s emotionality.”
BFW Analysis
It’s hard to dispute that Pep is one of the greatest footballing minds ever. The way he thinks about football, sees the tactics and the formations unravel on the pitch, and fine-tunes teams to become dominant, well-oiled machines is a process to behold and marvel at. Few managers have enjoyed as much success at the club football level with as many top teams as Pep. However, what perhaps makes coaches like Klopp stand out more is the way they transform teams, the way they build teams from the ground up, and the way the players are ready to go to war for them.
Pep and Klopp may have different coaching philosophies and styles, but one thing is certain: Pep is an obsessive mastermind who always strives for perfection, while Klopp drills his teams to play “rock n roll” wartime football, and Klopp’s players always seem ready to die for him. That is probably where the emotionality Bischof talks about comes into the picture.
The irony of it all is that Bayern’s current coach, Vincent Kompany, has the team functioning in a way that blends the best of both Pep’s and Klopp’s philosophies. Bayern’s football is what comes closest to “total football.”
And Tom Bischof is at the heart of this style.
