Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City are 'innocent until proven guilty' after Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho's jibe
Updated 07/12/2024 at 00:04 GMT
Pep Guardiola reminded Jose Mourinho that Manchester City were "innocent until proven guilty" and claimed the Fenerbahce boss was among a "huge list" of people that wanted to see The Blues relegated. Earlier on Friday, Mourinho responded to a Guardiola quip by insisting all three of his Premier League titles with Chelsea were won "cleanly and fairly".
'It was a joke...we are innocent until proven guilty' - Guardiola on Mourinho comments
Video credit: SNTV
Pep Guardiola said Jose Mourinho was among a "huge list" of people who want Manchester City to be relegated after the Fenerbahce boss responded to a joke The Blues boss made earlier this week.
On Tuesday, Guardiola was asked about the six fingers he raised – to represent his six league titles at City – during last Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Liverpool.
The City boss was reminded of the three-finger salute Mourinho made as Manchester United’s manager in August 2018 and how that marked the start of the Portuguese boss’ decline.
In response, Guardiola noted that Mourinho had been sacked after winning Premier League titles at Chelsea and quipped that he had won six English league titles to his counterpart’s three.
On Friday, Mourinho responded by claiming each of his Premier League titles with Chelsea were won "cleanly and fairly" in an answer that referenced the 115 charges against Man City over alleged financial breaches. City have denied wrongdoing.
"Guardiola said something to me yesterday. He won six trophies and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly," said Mourinho. "If I lost, I want to congratulate my opponent because he was better than me. I don't want to win by dealing with 150 lawsuits."
- 'I didn't like what was being said' - Postecoglou addresses confrontation with fans
- Slot expects Salah to continue scoring for Liverpool 'for a long time'
- How to watch Everton v Liverpool on TNT Sports and discovery+
Informed of the Fenerbahce boss’ comments, Guardiola stressed that his six titles to Mourinho’s three were "fact" and that Mourinho is part of a spate of people who want to see City relegated to "League One or the Conference".
"It was a joke," he said. "But he’s another one in the huge list that they want the team in League One or the Conference. I would say to Jose the same: we are innocent until proven guilty. After that we will see what happens. It is what it is, it was completely a joke.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2024/12/06/image-512cd007-6517-4505-ab54-a5529e6ccabc-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.
Image credit: Getty Images
"If I have offended him I’m so sorry. The fact is, he has three and I have six. This is a fact. But the –intention was completely fine."
The 53-year-old added: "Both with our teams, him with Chelsea and me with Man City, we can sit at the table with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, right? For the many many titles we won. And I’m pretty sure soon they will congratulate us."
Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?
Advertisement
Advertisement