**Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has reminded Jose Mourinho of “the facts” after the Portuguese coach referenced the Premier League champions 115 charges this week.**
Comparisons had been made between the two coach’s following City’s 2-0 defeat at Anfield that spark a staggering reaction from the Etihad head coach after Liverpool fans issued a relentless rendition of, “You’re getting sacked in the morning”, towards the 53-year-old.
Pep Guardiola responded with a smirk in the direction of Anfield supporters before raising six fingers, in reference to the six Premier League titles he has won since becoming manager of Manchester City back in 2016 – many of which have come at Liverpool’s expense.
In the aftermath of the incident, some had drawn comparisons to Jose Mourinho’s gesture of ‘three’ during a Manchester United press conference, before Guardiola insisted that the difference between the two – despite similarities – was that he had won three more titles.
Those comments left the now-Fenerbahce manager incensed during an address with the media over in Turkey this week, as he responded, “He \[Pep Guardiola\] won six trophies and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly.”
He continued, “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.”
Speaking during his latest address with the media, and ahead of City’s trip to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola insisted that his reminder of the difference in English top-flight titles won between himself and Jose Mourinho was merely a joke.
“It was a joke. It was a joke. But he (Jose Mourinho) is another one in the huge list that wants the (Manchester City) team being in, I don’t know, in the League One or the Conference,” Pep Guardiola responded on Friday.
“But I’d say to Jose; we are innocent until proven guilty. After that, we will see what happens. But it was completely a joke,” he continued. “I think both, with our teams – him with Chelsea, myself with Man City – we can sit at the table with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. For the many, many titles we won. And I’m pretty sure, sooner or later, he will congratulate us.”
But while Guardiola was insistent on apologising to Mourinho was any offence that may have been caused, the Manchester City boss was as keen to reaffirm the facts of the matter during his media conference this week.
“If I’ve offended him, I’m so sorry. But it was a joke. The fact is he has three, I have six. These are the facts. But the intention was completely fine. But I’ll say the same; it’s another one of the huge list in this country and all around the world that wants us there in the bottom.
“I’ll say: It’s OK, it’s fine. What I said many times; wait for the sentence, and everyone, especially in democracy, innocent until guilt is proven, right? So we wait, and after we’ll see.”
It remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola’s latest round of comments will be put back to Jose Mourinho when he next faces the press in Turkey, however the battle between two great managerial foes is one that the internet is lapping up.
Manchester City take on Juventus in the UEFA Champions League following their clash with Crystal Palace, travelling to Turin on matchday six before returning home to prepare for the Manchester derby meeting with Ruben Amorim’s United on Sunday afternoon.