As far as marquee managerial clashes go, Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho overshadows any other in the world today and not without reason. When 2 of the very best in the business develop a certain animosity towards each other, sparks are sure to fly. The much-vaunted rivalry will soon be back in a new avatar in the English Premier League this season when Manchester United take on their cross-city rivals Manchester City.
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Pep and Mourinho’s managerial styles are like oil and water but there’s no denying the fact that both of them are winners. While Pep favours a possession based system which requires players who can retain the ball well, operate in tight spaces and have the vision to split open opposition defences, Mourinho is anti-Pep! Mou’s teams are solid and very organised and will counterattack with pace. His teams are happy to concede possession and will look to hit teams which hog the ball on the break. Interestingly, both of them worked together at Barcelona. Mourinho was part of the coaching staff between 1996-2000 when Guardiola was a player.
The first time Mou and Pep went up against each other was in a Champions League group stage match in 2009 between Inter Milan and Barcelona which finished 0-0. In the reverse fixture, Guardiola’s Barca ran out 2-0 winners. Mou, who had remarked after the game that he was ready to play Barca again in the tournament, got his wish when Inter were drawn against Barca in the semifinals. The Catalans, who were the red hot favourites to progress to the final, were beaten 3-1 at the San Siro by a compact and incisive Inter. Though Mou lost the 2nd leg 0-1, his team progressed to the final on aggregate and went on to lift the title. That game led many to believe Jose Mourinho was the only one capable of shackling Guardiola’s ‘all-conquering’ Barcelona.
The rivalry took on a whole new definition in the following summer when Mourinho was appointed the manager of Real Madrid, the arch-rivals of Barcelona. The El Clasico also became a Pep vs Mou battle. The first El Clasico between the two saw Barca trounce Real 5-0 but Mourinho would beat Pep in the Copa Del Rey final to gain a measure of revenge. The final clash between the two was in the UEFA Super Cup in 2013, when Mou’s Chelsea faced Bayern Munich. After a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes, Pep clinched the match 5-4 on penalties.
The 2 behemoths have unfinished business between them and the Manchester derby has just gotten bigger. Will Guardiola, who builds fluid and beautiful-to-watch teams triumph or Mou, who builds winning teams prevail?
Head-to-Head record:-
| Total Meetings | 16 |
| Pep Guardiola Wins | 7 |
| Jose Mourinho Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 6 |
