Watch: ‘I will miss him a lot’ – Pep Guardiola breaks down speaking about Jurgen Klopp

Guardiola hailed the “insane” achievements of his history-making Manchester City side after they won a fourth Premier League title in a row.

A 3-1 victory over West Ham at the Etihad ensured City became the first team to achieve the feat, pipping Arsenal by two points.

Yet when he was asked to offer up a few words for Klopp on his final day as Liverpool boss, it inspired an instant emotional reaction.

Guardiola and Klopp have locked horns in Germany when they were in charge of Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund and then when they moved to England’s Premier League, with the City boss welling up as he admitted his rivalry with Klopp has been key to his own development as a manager.

"I will miss him a lot. Jurgen has been a really important part of my life. He brought me to another level as a manager,” said Guardiola, who quickly became emotional as he spoke about Klopp.

"I think we respect each other incredibly – I have a feeling that he will be back.

"I just want to say thank you so much for his words, but he knows personally that behind me, there are a lot of things that this club provides me and gives to me. Otherwise, alone, I cannot do it. I'm humble enough to understand completely.

"He helps me so many times. He helps me with his team, and he's been a huge competitor in my life. In many moments, I didn't discover the way I can punish them like I can find for other teams. It's so difficult.

"I'm sure Mikel [Arteta and Arsenal] will continue his legacy to push us to another level.

"I wish him [Klopp] all the best. I didn't see his final game but I hope it was special for him, because he deserves it. People say, 'How many titles did you win?' It's not just about that. Of course, it's important, but it's not just about that.

"They are personalities. When they stay in one place, they stay there forever.

"The level with Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and the other legends, Jurgen will be there."

Klopp also saluted Guardiola as he made his Liverpool exit, as he insisted the 115 charge of financial irregularities hanging over City do not take away from the achievements of their team on the pitch.

"Everybody knows about the 115 charges, but I have no clue what that means, I only know the number," said Klopp.

"Whatever has happened at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world - and that is really important.

‌“If you put any other manager in that club, they don't win the league four times in a row. That's down to him and his boys. Does that mean they can do what they want? No. But I don't know what they did - if they did anything - and I'm not here to say they have.

‌“We will see. Of course, I would like to know (if City are guilty) one day. Everyone wants to know. But I will be somewhere else. The quality of Pep makes the difference so I don't worry about these things. We will see. It's not my problem and I am fine with what we have and what we've achieved."