The age-old rivalry between José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola has reignited with a familiar dose of controversy and sharp exchanges. This time, the tension stems from Guardiola’s comments comparing their respective Premier League successes and Mourinho’s pointed response regarding Manchester City’s ongoing legal battles over alleged financial misconduct.
It all began when Guardiola, during a press conference, referenced Mourinho’s infamous gesture from 2018 when he held up three fingers to Juventus fans to symbolise his treble-winning season with Inter Milan. Guardiola mirrored this gesture by holding up six fingers to Liverpool fans on Sunday, a nod to City’s six Premier League titles under his management.
When asked if he feared the same fate as Mourinho—who was sacked by Manchester United shortly after his gesture—Guardiola quipped:
“I hope not in my case. He won three, I won six… but we are the same like that.”
Mourinho, never one to shy away from a war of words, responded with characteristic sharpness. Speaking ahead of Fenerbahce’s clash with Besiktas, he fired back:
“I won fairly and cleanly. I don’t want to win by dealing with 150 court cases.”
The reference was a clear jab at Manchester City’s ongoing legal issues over alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules between 2009 and 2018, a claim the club has repeatedly denied.
Guardiola was quick to clarify his intentions, apologising if his remarks had offended Mourinho.
“If I have offended him, I am so sorry. But it was a joke,” said Guardiola. “The fact is he has three, and I have six—that’s a fact. But the intention was completely fine.”
The City manager went on to emphasise the shared legacy of both managers, saying:
“I think both with our teams—he with Chelsea, myself with Man City—we can sit at the table with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger, right? For the many, many titles we’ve won. And I’m pretty sure sooner or later they will congratulate us.”
Addressing City’s legal troubles, Guardiola reiterated the club’s stance of innocence until proven guilty:
“There are many people around the world who want to see City at the bottom. We are innocent until proven as guilty. After that, we’ll see what happens.”
This isn’t the first time Mourinho has aimed at City. In October, he remarked that he hoped to add a fourth Premier League medal to his collection if City were stripped of titles following their legal battles. He suggested Manchester United, who finished second in the 2017-18 season, should be awarded the trophy if City’s triumph that year was invalidated.
Interestingly, Mourinho’s former club Chelsea, where he won three Premier League titles in two spells, is also under investigation for potential financial rule breaches between 2012 and 2019.
The tension between Mourinho and Guardiola dates back over a decade, starting with their fiery clashes in Spain when Mourinho managed Real Madrid and Guardiola led Barcelona. Their verbal sparring has become a hallmark of modern football, often transcending the pitch and spilling into press conferences.
This latest exchange underlines the intensity of their rivalry, with both men using their achievements and current circumstances as ammunition. While Guardiola maintains a diplomatic tone, Mourinho’s characteristic candour ensures the debate remains as fiery as ever.
The rivalry between these two managerial giants is far from over, and if history is any indication, this is merely the latest chapter in a saga that continues to captivate football fans worldwide.
