Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has responded to comments made by Jose Mourinho regarding the 115 Premier League charges of financial impropriety facing the club.
The ongoing dispute between the two managers stems from Guardiola’s earlier jibe about Mourinho’s “three-finger” celebration during his time at Manchester United.
Guardiola had claimed he had won six trophies compared to Mourinho’s three, prompting the Portuguese manager to reference the charges against City.
I want to win, but I want to win cleanly and fairly,” said Mourinho. “If I can’t win cleanly, I’d rather lose.” He added that he doesn’t “want to win by dealing with 115 cases.”
Guardiola hit back at Mourinho’s comments, saying: “I was joking but he’s another one in the huge list who want the team in League One or the Conference. I would say to Jose the same: we are innocent until proven guilty.”
The Manchester City boss pointed to the success he and Mourinho have both enjoyed, stating that they can “sit at the table with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger” in terms of the number of titles won.
Guardiola also revealed that he has enjoyed warmer relations with Ferguson and Wenger since leaving Barcelona, with the former Arsenal manager being an “unlikely ally” in City’s dispute with the Premier League.
The long-standing rivalry between Guardiola and Mourinho dates back to their time as managers of Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain between 2010 and 2012.
Their feud has now spilled over to the Premier League, with the latest exchange adding further intrigue to the ongoing financial investigation into Manchester City.
