Pep Guardiola has dismissed Jose Mourinho’s recent criticism regarding Manchester City’s Premier League title wins, emphasizing that his comments were merely a joke.
The exchange between the two iconic managers follows Guardiola’s gesture of holding up six fingers during City’s 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield. The action symbolized the six Premier League titles he has secured with Manchester City.
Mourinho, known for his fiery retorts, drew parallels between Guardiola’s gesture and his own in 2018 when he flashed three fingers to Chelsea fans to signify his league titles, two months before his dismissal from Manchester United.
In response to comparisons with Mourinho, Guardiola remarked, “I hope not in my case. Maybe in the end, we are quite similar, like Jose. But he won three, I won six.”
Not one to stay silent, Mourinho retaliated with a sharp comment referencing City’s 115 alleged financial breaches under Premier League investigation.
“He won six trophies, and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly,” Mourinho stated. “If I lose, I congratulate my opponent for being better. I don’t want to win while dealing with 150 lawsuits.”
Guardiola addressed Mourinho’s remarks during a press conference, maintaining that his initial comment was intended humorously. “It was a joke. If I offended him, I’m sorry,” he explained. He added, “We are innocent until proven guilty. Everyone, especially in a democracy, deserves that. After that, we’ll see what happens.”
The Manchester City boss defended his legacy, asserting that both he and Mourinho belong to an elite group of managers alongside Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. “We can sit at the same table for the many titles we’ve won,” Guardiola stated.
Guardiola concluded by acknowledging the scrutiny City faces amid ongoing charges. “There’s a huge list of people who want us relegated, but it’s fine. Let’s wait for the sentence.”
The back-and-forth between these two iconic managers adds yet another chapter to their storied rivalry.