Jose Mourinho is hoping for not only a fresh start at the biggest club in England, but a chance to once again stake a claim to being the best manager in club football. Standing in his way, however, will be Manchester United‘s derby arch-rival Man City – now led by one of Mourinho’s greatest rivals. But the Special One promises not to led his rivalry and competitive streak stop him from making the moves that benefit the team.
In a recent appearance at a lecture in Lisbon University [per the Telegraph], Mourinho made it clear that he would not go back to fighting with his former La Liga rival Pep Guardiola – who now manages Man City – stating that committing to beating the former Barcelona boss would merely allow another manager to take the title away from both of them.
“My experience does not allow me to be innocent,” Mourinho added.
“I was with Guardiola two years in a league where me or he would be champion. Here, if I focus on him or he on me, the champion will be another (manager).”
Mourinho and Guardiola have battled on the pitch for years, with the two having some of their most heated moments when they managed Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. During his three-year tenure at the Bernabeu, the two managers both claimed a La Liga title, but Mourinho never led Real Madrid past the Champions League Semi-Finals – Guardiola, on the other hand, did in 2011.
Mourinho also gave a slight hint at his summer transfer plans, adding that he has no plans to bring a player from Portugal – Primeira Liga or otherwise – to Old Trafford this summer.
“I won’t be signing any player from Portugal,” Mourinho added.
Considering Cristiano Ronaldo is Portuguese, that statement should pretty much put any hopes of a reunion to rest for good.
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