Mourinho Vs Pep: How Good Friends Turned Bitter Rivals (Facts To Know Before Their First Derby)

As the footballing world awaits the clash of the two Manchester sides, the spotlight has often been shifted from the play itself to the bitter rivalry between the two coaches involved, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho.


The two great football coaches has a rivalry that could be traced back to their years as the coaches of Barcelona and Inter Milan respectively. Their feud reached its peak when Mourinho joined Barcelona’s fierce rivals, Real Madrid in 2010; they often clashed on the touchlines during El Clasico encounters and became sworn enemies.

However, it could be recalled that the pair used to be friends during their stay at Barcelona. Mourinho was an assistant coach while Guardiola was also a midfield maestro for the Catalan giants.
But their coaching career paths has turned them into bitter rivals with no love lost in between.

Although, Mourinho appears to be a bit relaxed about the rivalry but Guardiola seem not to hid his disgust for the Portuguese and his tactics.
The Spaniard often shies away from the conflict in the press but once said:
“In this room [the Bernabeu press room] Mourinho is the f***ing chief, the f***ing boss. He knows all about this and I don’t want to compete with him in here.
“I’d just like to remind him that I worked with him for four years [at Barcelona]. He knows me and I know him.

“I try to learn from Jose on the pitch, but I prefer to learn as little as possible from him off the pitch.”
Mourinho on the other hand said: “Josep Guardiola is a fantastic coach. But I have won two Champions Leagues and he has won one Champions League – and that is one that would embarrass me.

“I would be ashamed to have won it with the scandal of Stamford Bridge. If he wins it this year, it will be with the scandal of the Bernabeu. Deep down, if they are good people, it cannot taste right for them.
“I hope one day Guardiola has the chance of winning a brilliant, clean championship with no scandal.”

Of course, Guardiola went on to win the Champions league for a second time but the Red Devils boss has not in any form reserved respect for his counterpart on the blue side of Manchester. The pair will be square up against each other in a thrilling derby match at the Old Trafford.