Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has denied that he’s focusing on rekindling his rivalry with new Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola next season.
The Portuguese was locked in fierce competition with Guardiola during his spell at Real Madrid, but the ‘special one’ doesn’t foresee it occurring again in the Premier League.
Mourinho replaced departing manager Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, after the Dutchman failed to impress in his two years at the club. The former Chelsea man was the fans’ favourite to take the reigns, but will have his work cut out to bring success back to the red side of Manchester.
When speaking to Portuguese reporters (via Marca), Mourinho denied the rivalry between himself and Guardiola would be as strong next season, suggesting that the openness of the Premier League would prevent such a feud.
He said: “I was with Pep for two years in La Liga where the champion would always be either me or him. In the Premier League if I focus on him and Manchester City and if he focuses on me and Manchester United, another team will win the title.”
The very fact that Leicester City won the league this season is proof that anyone can challenge for the top prize in England, something which isn’t the case in the rest of Europe.
He added: “In England there have been four different champions in the last four years. I don’t see any team that is a clear favourite like you could say in the years of Spain’s dominance.”
United failed to qualify for the Champions League this season, and were way off the pace to challenge for the title.
They finished on the same points as their city rivals, but their inferior goal difference saw them slump to a fifth-placed finish.
Mourinho must now install a winning mentality back into the club and get them playing attractive football once more. Despite all his failings, the main factor behind Van Gaal’s dismissal was the laboured style of play.
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