Klopp comes clean before El Clasico: "Today I'm with Barcelona, they're the best team"

Some matches a coach never misses, no matter what else is going on. For Jurgen Klopp, the Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid is one of those unmissable dates on the calendar. The Germany national team coach held nothing back when discussing Sunday's showdown at Spotify Camp Nou, and along the way dropped a confession that's sure to spark plenty of bar-table debate: he has a favorite.

"It's a game I love watching," Klopp said in comments to DAZN. And almost casually, he started dropping hints about where his allegiance lies this time around. It's a notable admission given that his name has been linked to Real Madrid more than once over the years. But the German didn't hold back.

Neutrality? He gave it a shot, though it didn't last long.

Today I'm with whoever the better team is. And as things stand, that team is probably Barcelona.Jurgen Klopp

An old score to settle with Pepe

The most interesting part came when Klopp got nostalgic and explained why, in years past, his heart leaned more toward the Catalan side. It had nothing to do with Messi, or tiki-taka, or any kind of footballing poetry. It had to do with the hits.

The former Liverpool manager went straight for the memory of Real Madrid's defenders from that era, with Pepe as the main target of his complaint.

In the past I was more of a Barcelona guy because I hated when Pepe and the other defenders were kicking the hell out of everything in front of them back then. That was the only reason I leaned more toward Barcelona.Jurgen Klopp

There's no getting around it: by his own account, it was the physicality that pushed Klopp toward the Barcelona camp back in the day. Nothing to do with tactics or big names, just the memory of a rougher brand of soccer that, as a spectator, never quite sat right with him.

What's clear is that El Clasico still has that pull on anyone who loves the game, national team coaches included. Klopp made it plain: it's one of those matches that grabs you no matter your passport or your job title. And this time, with Barcelona hosting Real Madrid at Camp Nou, the German has already made clear who he's rooting for, at least for now.