Mourinho v Guardiola

Manchester will be home to two of the most successful managers in the world next season, as United’s Jose Mourinho and City’s Pep Guardiola go head-to-head in the Premier League.

The pair have clashed many times before and have a fierce rivalry.

Here, we look back at their records against each other and the times they’ve clashed…

Guardiola’s Barcelona v Mourinho’s Inter Milan

Four meetings: Guardiola: 2 wins,  Draws: 1, Mourinho: 1 win

The first meeting between Guardiola and Mourinho as managers produced a typically intriguing tactical battle, as Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a 0-0 draw in a Champions League group game at the San Siro in 2009.

The reverse fixture, though, saw the Spanish side win a one-sided contest 2-0 at the Nou Camp. The hosts were without Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic but Xavi picked Mourinho’s men apart.

After the game, Mourinho conceded his team had been outplayed – but welcomed the chance of another crack at Guardiola’s team: “We’re far from being Barca in terms of individual qualities and profile. As a team, Barcelona are better than us. But if I had to play against Barca again tomorrow, I would already be ready. If you told me that Inter will face Barca in the semi-final, I will accept it already.”

Mourinho got his wish. Inter did come up against Barcelona in the semi-finals – and this time they emerged victorious. However, in a glimpse of how Mourinho and Guardiola’s rivalry would develop, the tie was not without its controversy or outspoken remarks.

After a first-leg 3-1 win at the San Siro for the Italian side, Mourinho slammed Barca’s claims they should have had a penalty for a foul on Dani Alves.

“A year ago Chelsea were crying and Barca were laughing with the referee,” Mourinho said, referring to the controversial Champions League semi-final at Stamford Bridge, which saw referee Tom Henning Ovrebo reject a number of penalty claims from the Blues. “They laughed because he denied my Chelsea boys their rightful place.”

Mourinho was even more impassioned after his side – reduced to 10 men midway through the first-half – booked their final berth with a 1-0 defeat in Barcelona.

“It is the most beautiful defeat of my life,” he said. “It is a style of blood not skill. We were a team of heroes. It’s a pity I could not play because I have got the same blood. I have already won a Champions League but today was even better. We made huge sacrifices.”

Mourinho’s Inter would go on to win the Champions League and match Barcelona’s 2008/09 achievement of winning a treble.

Guardiola’s Barcelona v Mourinho’s Real Madrid

Eleven meetings: Guardiola wins: 5, Draws: 4, Mourinho wins: 2

The rivalry between Guardiola and Mourinho hit a whole new level in 2010, when Mourinho was appointed Real Madrid boss. During the next two seasons, as the pair vied for domestic and European honours, their relationship turned ugly.

A thumping 5-0 win for Guardiola in Mourinho’s first El Clasico handed the Spaniard a head-start. “I’m proud the whole world has seen how we play football,” he said.

But it would be a run of four meetings in a little over two weeks from mid-April, as Barcelona and Real Madrid clashed in La Liga, the Copa del Rey and Champions League, which saw the pressure get to both men.

There was a penalty for each team as a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu all-but assured Barcelona of the league title. But Cristiano Ronaldo clinched the Copa del Rey in extra-time four days later, ending Real’s 18-year wait to lift the Spanish cup.

After the game Guardiola sparked a war of words by suggesting the linesman must have had great eyesight to spot Barcelona’s Pedro was in an offside position before scoring what would have been the opening goal.

“Up until now there was a very small group of coaches who didn’t talk about referees and a larger group who did,” said Mourinho ahead of the teams’ Champions League semi-final first-leg. “Now, with Pep’s comments, we have started a new era with a third group, featuring only one person, a man who criticises [the referee] when he makes good …

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