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Jose Mourinho has responded to Pep Guardiola's recent comments about their respective Premier League achievements. Mourinho, who won three Premier League titles during his time at Chelsea, emphasized that his victories were achieved "fairly and cleanly," in contrast to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Manchester City.
The exchange began after Guardiola, reacting to Liverpool fans' chants during City's 2-0 defeat at Anfield, held up six fingers to signify his league title wins. Asked later if he worried about facing a dismissal like Mourinho's tenure at Manchester United, Guardiola replied, "I hope not... he won three, I won six. But we are similar in that way."
Mourinho, now managing Turkish club Fenerbahçe, took the opportunity to address City's ongoing legal issues regarding alleged financial breaches between 2009 and 2018. "If I lose, I congratulate my opponent because they were better. I don’t want to win by navigating through 150 court cases," Mourinho stated in an interview with Turkish media. He also hinted that he wouldn't mind adding a fourth Premier League medal to his collection if Manchester City were stripped of titles.
This isn’t the first time Mourinho has criticized City. Previously, he speculated about the potential impact of the charges on title standings, humorously suggesting United could retroactively receive the 2017-18 Premier League trophy, where they finished as runners-up to City.
Manchester City declined to comment on Mourinho’s remarks, and Guardiola’s team will look to refocus as they prepare for their upcoming match against Crystal Palace. The rivalry between Mourinho and Guardiola continues to ignite debate, reflecting their enduring influence in the football world.