Jose Mourinho, fired back at Pep Guardiola after the Manchester City manager highlighted his superior Premier League title count, asserting that his own trophies were won “fairly and cleanly.”
The verbal sparring began when Guardiola, following City’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, gestured six fingers to Liverpool fans, referencing his six Premier League titles compared to Mourinho’s three.
Guardiola later addressed the incident, saying, “I hope I don’t suffer the same fate as Mourinho [being sacked].
He won three; I won six, but we’re similar in that regard.
It’s to remind our fans of the extraordinary things we’ve achieved.
Sooner or later, it’ll end, but I want to extend it as long as possible for the good of my club.”
Mourinho, now managing Fenerbahçe, took exception to Guardiola’s remarks.
Speaking to Turkish outlet Sporx, the Portuguese tactician said, “Guardiola mentioned yesterday that he has six titles and I have three, but I win fairly and cleanly.
“If I lose, I congratulate my opponent because they were better than me.
I don’t want to win by dealing with 150 lawsuits.”
Mourinho’s statement alluded to the 115 charges Manchester City currently faces for alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations.
The ongoing legal case, held at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre, could lead to severe penalties for City, including relegation or substantial points deductions if found guilty.
Premier League barristers Andrew Hunter KC and Adam Lewis KC concluded arguments this week, with a verdict expected in the coming months.
The decision will determine whether City violated financial rules and, if so, what consequences they will face.
