Jose Mourinho has issued a pointed warning to Pep Guardiola, suggesting that the Manchester City manager’s Premier League title achievements will always carry the shadow of the 115 financial charges currently facing the club.
Guardiola recently responded to taunts from Liverpool fans about City’s poor form by holding up six fingers, a reminder of his six Premier League titles. When questioned about similarities to Mourinho, who famously gestured about his own three league titles before being sacked, Guardiola remarked: “I hope that’s not the case for me. But in the end, we are similar in some ways. However, he won three Premier Leagues, and I’ve won six. So, it’s not quite the same, is it?”
Mourinho, now managing Fenerbahce in Turkey, seized the opportunity to hit back.
“I want to win, but I want to win cleanly and fairly,” he said. “If I cannot win cleanly, I prefer to lose. Guardiola spoke about me—he’s won six titles, and I’ve won three. But I won fair and clean. If I lose, I want to congratulate my opponent for being better than me. I don’t want to win with 150 cases hanging over my head.”
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The investigation into Manchester City’s alleged breaches is expected to conclude soon, with a verdict potentially arriving by February 2025. However, appeals could extend the process for much longer.
Despite the controversy and City’s current struggles, Guardiola recently committed to a new two-year contract, affirming his intention to stay even if the club is found guilty and relegated from the Premier League.