Jose Mourinho has responded to Pep Guardiola’s recent comments about their respective Premier League title records, with a sharp critique aimed at the Manchester City manager’s success in light of the club’s ongoing financial charges.
Guardiola recently raised eyebrows when he reminded Liverpool fans, who had taunted him for City’s poor form, that he has won six Premier League titles—more than Mourinho’s three. The Spanish manager raised his fingers to the Anfield crowd in a show of defiance, making it clear that his trophy haul surpasses the Portuguese coach’s.
When Mourinho’s similar gesture during his tenure at Chelsea was brought up, Guardiola quickly responded, saying: “I hope that’s not the case for me. But in the end, we are similar in some ways. He won three Premier Leagues, I won six. So, it’s not quite the same, is it?”
Mourinho, now managing Fenerbahce in Turkey, wasted no time in firing back with a brutal response, emphasizing that his success was achieved “cleanly and fairly.”
“I want to win, but I want to win cleanly and fairly,” Mourinho said. “If I cannot win cleanly, I prefer to lose. Guardiola said something about me, he won six trophies, I won three, but I won fair and clean. If I lose, I want to congratulate my opponent for being better than me. I do not want to win by dealing with 150 cases.”
Mourinho’s comments were a clear reference to the ongoing investigation into Manchester City’s alleged financial misconduct. The club faces 115 charges from the Premier League, which are still under investigation. The hearing is expected to conclude in the coming days, with a possible verdict set for February 2025. However, appeals could extend the case well into next year.
Guardiola’s six Premier League titles, while impressive, will remain clouded by the looming legal issues surrounding his club. Despite the ongoing uncertainty, Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City, confirming he will remain in charge even if the club is found guilty of the charges or relegated from the Premier League.
As the case unfolds, Mourinho’s comments serve as a reminder of the complexity of success in football, where trophies can sometimes be overshadowed by off-field controversies.
