The exchange has everything of a skillfully orchestrated provocation. While he was speaking in a Portuguese program, José Mourinho sent a very direct message to Pep Guardiola. An unexpected declaration, as the tension between the two men seemed to have dropped in recent years. But obviously, “The Special One” has forgotten nothing.
Mourinho attacks Guardiola's tactical choices
“If you die with your idea, you are stupid.” »» This is how Mourinho summed up, without filter, his vision of modern coaching. In line of sight: Guardiola's philosophy, which he accuses of excessive rigidity, especially in his insistence to build from the rear. He reproached Catalan for sacrificing Joe Hart, at the time best English goalkeeper, for the benefit of Claudio Bravo, then Ederson, simply to stick to a pre -established diagram. For Mourinho, a coach must adapt to his players – and not the other way around.
This outing does not fall by chance. City comes out of a more feverish season than the previous ones, marked by injuries, a decline of certain executives, and a humiliating elimination against Al-Hilal in the club World Cup. Mourinho, now a coach of Fenerbahçe, took the opportunity to slip a tackle well felt on the Guardiola system, which he considers outdated and ineffective in today's football.
Mourinho relaunches the Cold War with Guardiola
A rivalry that could be reborn internationally
It must be said that the two men have long maintained one of the most intense rivalries of modern football. From 2010 to 2012, when they headed Real Madrid and FC Barcelona respectively, the spikes were almost weekly. Tense conferences, provocations, style oppositions … then the trajectories diverged. Guardiola accumulated the trophies, Mourinho slipped in the shadows. But obviously, the desire to do battle never left him.
And who knows? The two could soon be on a completely different field. Since they both dream of directing a national selection, their paths may well meet the euro or the World Cup. The Mourinho-Guardiola war may not be over. Just on a break.
