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PEP V JOSE: WHO COMES OUT ON TOP?

The Manchester derby is always a fiery affair but imagine spicing the fixture up further by adding two managers who genuinely dislike each other into the mix? Well, that’s exactly what we are going to get on Saturday (Pep v Jose) as Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United play host to Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.

In the build-up to the clash, I took a look at the history and personal rivalry between Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho. Warning: expect fireworks on Saturday – it is going to get heated; both on the pitch and in the dugout.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Pep is one of the best and most unique managers on the planet. Over the years, Guardiola has developed his own fluent brand of football and he has set the benchmark for many young managers in the sport. If you want to develop your skills and play attractive football, follow the Pep Guardiola model – it is as simple as that.

Guardiola and Mourinho clashed on a number of occasions during their Barcelona and Real Madrid days but their first head-to-head came in the Champions League back in 2009 as Mourinho’s Inter Milan earned a goalless draw at the San Siro. However, Pep got the better of the Portuguese in the second fixture as Barca ran out two-nil winners before going on to beat Manchester United in the final.

However, Jose got his revenge in the 2009/10 campaign as Inter earned a narrow 3-2 aggregate victory in the semi-finals to spark jubilant Mourinho celebrations on the famous Camp Nou turf – and his overzealous reaction did not go down well with the Barcelona fans, staff and players. You could say that this was the beginning of an unsavoury relationship…

If you need to win a football match, which manager would you want in charge? I’d pick Jose any day of the week. Whilst Pep’s easy-on-the-eye brand of football is admirable, Mourinho gets results – and that is what counts. The United boss has built title-winning sides whilst Pep has always had capable teams. Yes, heavy investment has been key to Mourinho’s triumphs but that is just the way football is nowadays.

During their Barca and Real days, Pep and Jose went head-to-head 11 times. Guardiola fared better, winning five fixtures to Mourinho’s two but most of these encounters were close, theatrical affairs. In fact, many were spoilt by a refereeing decision or by players attempting to con the referee – something that hopefully won’t occur in the Premier League.

On paper, the Mourinho-Guardiola feud is fascinating and English football fans will now have the chance to see this great battle first-hand. Whether you prefer one or the other, both deserve plenty of respect and neutrals will be licking their lips at the prospect of a hard-fought Manchester derby. It should be a fantastic tactical battle if nothing else…

Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho are both at the top of their fields but both adopt very different managerial styles. The Manchester derby may not be a great encounter on the eye but one thing is for sure: there will be plenty of drama, passion and desire on show.

You won’t want to miss it…

 


 

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