Pep Guardiola has six word message for Jose Mourinho after Special One aimed ‘fairly and cleanly’ dig at City’s titles
PEP GUARDIOLA mounted a passionate defence of Manchester City after Jose Mourinho smeared his six Prem titles.
The Special One delivered a withering “I won fairly and cleanly” response to the City boss, who had hailed winning twice as many crowns as his rival.
In a reference to the charges of 115 financial rule breaches City face, former Chelsea boss Mourinho said: “I want to win, but I want to win cleanly and fairly. If I can’t win cleanly, I’d rather lose.
“Guardiola told me something like this . . . he won six trophies and I won three.
“But I won fairly and cleanly. If I lost, I want to congratulate my opponent for being better than me. I don’t want to win by dealing with 150 cases.”
But Guardiola hit back: “He is another one on the huge list who want my team at the bottom, in League One or the Conference. I would say to Jose: We are innocent until proven guilty.”
City deny all the charges. Mourinho’s titles were won under the ownership of Roman Abramovich in 2005, 2006 and 2015.
But Chelsea’s finances are also being investigated by the Prem after the current ownership reported “incomplete financial information” had been submitted during the Russian’s tenure.
Guardiola, 53, added: “With both of our teams, we can sit with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger for the many, many titles we won.
“I’m pretty sure soon they will congratulate us.”
Fenerbahce coach Mourinho’s blast comes following Guardiola’s “Jose won three and I won six” comment after holding up six fingers to Liverpool fans following City’s 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday.
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Six years ago, just before being axed by Manchester United, Mourinho held up three fingers to Reds fans in reference to the three titles he won.
Guardiola had said City’s rivals would be “taking the p***” because of his side’s slump.
City have only won one game in their last eight in all competitions.
After Liverpool’s win, Mo Salah said it might be the last time he faces them at Anfield with his contract running out.
It prompted Kop boss Arne Slot to joke: “Maybe Mo knows more about the charges so he doesn’t expect them to be in the Prem next season!”
Guardiola responded: “The joke from Arne is his business, not my business.
“I’m talking about what I said. If I have offended Jose, I’m so sorry but it was a joke. The fact is he has three and I have six. But the intention was completely fine.”
Guardiola, who takes his side to Crystal Palace tomorrow, added: “Normal people don’t talk about results or how many trophies you win.”