Two of the best coaches in the history of football, with the permission of illustrious figures such as Carlo Ancelotti and ‘Sir’ Alex Ferguson, are in a complicated situation with their clubs: Pep Guardiola with Manchester City and José Mourinho with Fenerbahçe. In addition to this negative dynamic with their clubs, there has been exchange of statements between both coaches as in those crazy years where they directed FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
He won six Premier Leagues and I three, but I did it cleanly
Jose Mourinho
Pep Guardiola revealed himself against Anfield the day Manchester City fell 2-0, making a gesture of the number six with his hands, the Premier League that he has won as the leader of the ‘sky blues’. In the press conference after that defeat, they asked him about this gesture, something similar to what Mourinho did: “In the end we are similar, Mourinho won three Premier Leagues and I won six, but it’s the same, we are together in those situations.” declared the Catalan. The Portuguese coach did not hesitate to respond to Sampedor’s, referring to the alleged 115 complaints for skipping the Financial Fair Play: “He won six Premier Leagues and I three, but I did it cleanly. When I lose, I want to congratulate my rival because “He was better than me. What I don’t want is to have to face 115 complaints for skipping financial Fair Play.”
Guardiola in an unprecedented situation for him
The Sampedor coach is experiencing his worst moment since he began his career as a coach at FC Barcelona, as he has had five consecutive defeats (Tottenham, Bournemouth, Sporting Portugal, Brighton and Tottenham). In addition, we must add the draws against Feyenoord and Crystal Palace, and another game lost against Liverpool at Anfield. Between the match against the Reds and against Palace, they beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the Etihad. Right now they are in fourth position in the Premier with 27 points, eight less than Arne Slot’s, who have one game less than the ‘sky blues’. In the Champions League, they are outside the top eight places that give direct access to the round of 16, since they are in 17th position with eight points, a place that gives access to the round of 32 playoff.
The Manchester City coach faces Liverpool this coming Sunday at Anfield
This Wednesday in the Champions League against Juventus and next Sunday at the Etihad against Manchester United, Pep Guardiola and his City have two great opportunities to hit the table and show that they are the reliable team of years ago that has reigned in England during the last five years. With the return of Kevin De Bruyne to the starting lineup after his injury, they will seek to overcome a situation that began to unravel with the long-term injury of Rodri Hernández.
Fenerbahçe has fewer points under Mourinho than last season
The arrival of José Mourinho to Fenerbahçe translated into excitement for the Turkish team with the intention of winning the Turkish Superlig, something that has not happened since the 2013/2014 season. In addition, they were eliminated in the Champions League qualifier against Lille, and in their domestic championship, they are six points behind the lead held by Galatasaray, with whom they lost 1-3. On the last matchday, they lost 1-0 away against Besiktas. Last season, with Ismail Kartal in charge, at this point they had 37 points compared to the 32 they currently have with the Portuguese. Furthermore, in the Europa League they are in 15th position, with eight points out of a possible 15.
José Mourinho showed his anger at the refereeing decisions in Fenerbahçe’s last match…
The Ottoman team has not been able to beat the great rivals it has faced both in Turkey and in Europe (Lille, Manchester United, Galatasaray, Besiktas), nor with the great investment that the club made to satisfy José Mourinho (In -Nesyri, Soyuncu, Saint-Maximin and Amrabat), joined by Tadic, Dzeko and Livakovic who were already in the squad. This week, Fenerbahçe has two complicated games at home, against Athletic Club and İstanbul Başakşehir, to restore the enthusiasm of the Turkish club’s fans, who were very excited at the beginning of the season with the arrival of ‘The Special One’.
Both coaches, considered among the best in history, are in a bad moment at the helm of their clubs, something that is more surprising from the perspective of Pep Guardiola, who has a much better squad than José Mourinho, who could have the hope of to train again in the Premier League and see each other again like in the old days with Sampedor, renewed until 2027 by Manchester City.
