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Jose Mourinho responds to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City relegation claim

Jose Mourinho says he wants football’s ‘financial sharks’ to be punished (HT Spor)

Jose Mourinho insists he does not want Manchester City to be relegated from the Premier League but demands to see football’s ‘financial sharks’ brought to justice.

Mourinho and Guardiola were involved in a war of words last week after the City manager appeared to aim a dig at the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss over the number of Premier League titles he has won.

Mourinho responded by highlighting the 115 charges that City are contesting with the Premier League over alleged breaches of financial rules.

‘He won six trophies and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly,’ Mourinho said.

‘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.’

Guardiola hit back by accusing Mourinho of being on the ‘huge list’ of people who are keen to see City found guilty and relegated from the Premier League as part of their punishment.

Liverpool FC v Manchester City FC - Premier League

Pep Guardiola said Jose Mourinho was on a ‘huge list’ of people who want to see Man City relegated from the Premier League (Getty)

Mourinho was asked about Guardiola’s comments on Tuesday and the Fenerbahce head coach is adamant that he only wants to see ‘justice’ and is not targeting City.

‘In relation to Pep, let me say something which is… we were together for three years, I was an assistant and he was a player,’ Mourinho said.

‘I like him a lot and he knows that, he likes me and I know that, there are no problems between us.

Jose Mourinho says there are ‘no problems’ between him and Pep Guardiola (AMA/Getty)

‘One thing are words and another thing is deep feelings.

‘It’s not true that I want Man City to be relegated. It’s true that I like justice, and many times small clubs are punished by going €5, €10 over budget and the rules for Financial Fair Play.

‘For example, I suffered in Roma three years with great limitations about it. I don’t think it’s fair that the big sharks – when I say sharks I say financial sharks – they always find a way to escape the rules.

‘I’m just a football man, a man that loves football, more than being a professional football man I am very passionate, I just like justice in football.

‘But apart from that, no bad feelings.’

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