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Jose Mourinho has responded scathingly to Pep Guardiola after the Manchester City manager reminded fans that he had won twice as many Premier League titles as the Portuguese manager.
Guardiola made the comment while answering questions following his team’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
The 53-year-old was seen raising six fingers to the Anfield crowd after the match in reference to his top-flight trophy.
The image evoked memories of Mourinho, who flashed three fingers at Chelsea and Tottenham fans during a defeat in the final days of his tenure at Manchester United in 2018.
Mourinho was fired months later and Guardiola was asked if he could suffer the same fate.
The City manager responded: ‘I hope not in my case… He won three, I won six… but we are equal.
José Mourinho targeted Pep Guardiola after comparing his success in the Premier League
Guardiola raised six fingers at Liverpool fans after his team’s defeat last weekend
‘We are together in those situations. “To let our fans know that we are much, much better than the people who sing that (Liverpool fans sing Sacked in the Morning).”
‘It (the gesture) was just to make our fans feel that what we have done is extraordinary. I want to show that we are an incredible football club. “Sooner or later it will be the end, but I will try to extend it as long as possible for the best of my club.”
And Mourinho has clearly taken issue with the comment, hitting back at the Spaniard.
The Fenerbahçe coach said: ‘Guardiola told me something yesterday. He won six trophies and I won three, but I won fair and square.
‘If I lose, I want to congratulate my opponent because he was better than me. “I don’t want to win by dealing with 150 lawsuits.”
Mourinho was clearly referring to the 115 charges currently facing City.
City faces possible relegation from the Premier League due to 115 charges for allegedly violating the English football body’s financial rules.
The process, which began in September, was initially shrouded in mystery, before it was later revealed that it was taking place at London’s International Dispute Resolution Center (IDRC), which is near St Paul’s Cathedral in the city of London.
On Wednesday, Premier League lawyers Andrew Hunter KC and Adam Lewis KC of Blackstone Chambers were seen heading to the center for their closing statements.
José Mourinho won three Premier League titles during two different spells with Chelsea
If Lewis and his legal team prove City guilty of the most serious financial violations, the club could face severe punishments such as relegation or a significant points deduction.
The City’s 115 charges will be investigated, reviewed and analyzed by an independent commission.