Mario Gotze: Jurgen Klopp is world class but Pep Guardiola lacks empathy

Gotze, 26, played for Klopp at Dortmund and then Guardiola at Bayern and was full of praise for both managers.

“I’m still in touch with Jürgen,” Götze told DAZN during a documentary called Being Mario Gotze.

“Of course, he taught me everything about professional football. At that time, I was just 17 and coming up from the youth team. He introduced me to everything. He let me play.”

Whereas at Dortmund he flourished Gotze struggled at Bayern as injuries began to take their toll and sympathy was not forthcoming from Guardiola.

“Technically, [Guardiola] was a tremendous asset,” Gotze said.

“But he is very focused on the game and doesn’t think about players outside of his plan. He didn’t have much empathy, and empathy is part of being a world-class coach.”

When Gotze decided to leave Bayern and return to Dortmund it was reported that Klopp wanted to bring him to Liverpool and Gotze confirmed those reports and that a reunion will always be an option.

"I decided to leave Bayern and Jurgen Klopp was interested in getting me to Liverpool. And I was also interested in working with him again,

"It's still existing. He is a world-class coach and that's why it's always an option. I decided to join Borussia Dortmund, but it was not a decision against Liverpool or Jurgen Klopp. But on the contrary."

The announcement of Gotze's move to Bayern came out of the blue just after a dramatic victory over Malaga in 2013 to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.

In the documentary Klopp revealed how much of a shock it was to his system.

"I did not expect it at all. One day after knocking out Malaga [in the Champions League quarter-finals], one of the biggest games of all our careers, Michael Zorc said to me: 'We have to talk for a minute. Mario is going to Bayern.'

"I turned around, walked out of the office, drove home, got into bed. We had a movie premiere of (German actor) Wotan Wilke-Möhring in the evening.

"My wife was already done and stood there to go. I just said: 'Tonight nothing is possible.' It's just football, but the timing really hit me.

"After the highest high against Malaga and qualifying for the semi-finals of the Champions League I was not prepared for that."