5 reasons why Jose Mourinho has the edge over Pep Guardiola

#4 Win first, impress second

Pep Guardiola demands footballing perfection from his side

Last season Guardiola became the topic of conversation in the English press after he celebrated the performance of his side after a draw against Liverpool. It was a statement and a reaction that said everything about Guardiola's philosophy and approach to the game. While most people saw it as two points dropped, the manager saw it only as a significant step forward in the development of his team.

For Guardiola, it is about the performance, and if the performance is consistently right, the results will follow, and more importantly, follow for the right reasons. Influenced by the late, great Johan Cruyff and an ideology passed down from the Dutch master to shape the modern-day Barcelona, it is the ability to play the perfect game that cannot be compromised for, or compared with, a result at all cost attitude.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho is a serial winner, and winning is the only thing that matters. For Mourinho, nullifying the strengths of the opposition is as important as playing to the strengths of his own team, and he has no shame in openly destroying some of the most anticipated games in the pursuit of victory at any cost. More often than not, such is his knowledge and ability to implement such a plan, it proves to be effective.

The English Premier League is far different to La Liga and the Bundesliga, and Guardiola's Manchester City will not always have the freedom to play perfect football against robust and difficult defensive outfits. In addition, the supposed lesser Premier League clubs have found themselves financially rewarded to a level that has enabled them to go out and sign top international players, and every team has the potential on their day to cause an upset, more than in any other European top-flight.

The difference between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in this aspect is that the Manchester United boss can shape his team to win against differing opposition, while Guardiola will refuse to compromise on his strong ideology and philosophy when it comes to implementing an effective game plan. It might not always be pretty to watch, but United will dig out more points than City when the going gets tough.