Jose Mourinho has responded to Pep Guardiola’s comments after the Manchester City manager reminded fans that he has won double the Premier League titles compared to the Portuguese coach.
Guardiola, feeling the heat following City’s six-match winless run, made this statement after their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.
The 53-year-old manager was seen holding up six fingers to the Anfield supporters, indicating the number of league titles he has won. ..Continue Reading
This gesture brought back memories of Mourinho’s similar actions in 2018, when he flashed three fingers at Chelsea and Tottenham fans while he was in charge at Manchester United.
Mourinho was eventually sacked by United a few months later, prompting questions about whether Guardiola might face a similar outcome at City.
Guardiola responded: “I hope not in my case… He won three, I won six… but we are the same like that. We are together in those situations. To make our fans know that we are much, much better than the people that sing that [Liverpool fans singing sacked in the morning].
“It [the gesture] was just to make our fans feel that what we have done is extraordinary. I want to prove that we are an incredible football club. Sooner or later it’s going to be the end but I will try to extend as much as possible for the best of my club.”
Mourinho has fiercely retaliated against Guardiola’s comments. The manager, who now helms Fenerbahce, retorted: “Guardiola said something to me yesterday. He won six trophies and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly.”
Mourinho continued, drawing on Man City’s current predicament, stating: “If I lost, I want to congratulate my opponent because he was better than me. I don’t want to win by dealing with 150 lawsuits.”
His comments allude to the numerous charges facing Manchester City, who are accused of violating financial fair play regulations for nearly ten years, starting in 2009 after the Abu Dhabi United Group takeover and continuing until 2018.
An independent commission began investigating these alleged infractions in September and is expected to conclude its proceedings this week. However, a final judgment might not be delivered until the spring of 2025.
If found guilty, the club could face serious repercussions, including potential relegation, points deductions, and financial penalties.
