Manchester Derby. By; Kadiri Toluwalase Akorede

THE INSIDE STORY OF THE RIVALRY BETWEEN PEP AND JOSE



It was the semi-final of the Champions League. The stage was set, yet another El Clásico, their third game in an infamous four game sequence. Again, it was Pep against Mourinho. Except this time, he, Pep, decided to take on his arch rival in an unfamiliar territory— the press room. In his briefing, he said; "As senor Mourinho has called me Pep, I'm going to call him (Jose). Tomorrow at 8.45pm, we will face each other on the pitch. Off the pitch, he's won. He's been winning off the pitch all season. Let them give him a Champions League for it so he can enjoy it and take it home. In the press room, he is ‘el p*** jefe' (the ***** boss) and the one who knows more than everyone else. I would only remind him that we were together- he and I— for four years. He knows me and I know him. That's enough for me. If he prefers to value the views of the journalist friends who take their information in a drip feed from Florentino Pérez more than the relationship we had for four years then that's his choice. I try to learn from Jose on the pitch, but I prefer to learn as little as possible from him off the pitch."



It was atypical Pep and a far cry from the usually philosophical and friendly approach to his press briefings. If anything, it was clear Mourinho had gotten to him, one way or the other, and it was clear their relationship had deteriorated since the first time they worked together in the late 1990s.



Speaking of first timers, the pair's path first crossed in 1996 when a young and meticulous Mourinho worked as Bobby Robson's interpreter and latterly as the assistant coach for his successor Louis van Gaal in 1997 following the departure of the legendary English manager. It was during the Dutchman's reign that their friendship was forged with the Portuguese's detailed analysis of opponents as well as his participation in training sessions coupled with Pep's own tactical inquisitiveness meant that they regularly had tactical discussions. Such was their good working relationship that some players credited them for their Copa del Rey win in 1997. The respect was mutual as Bobby noted in the 2011 biography of Mourinho; "Jose had always recognised that Pep was an important figure at the club... He thought: ‘I have to get in with this guy. I have to get to know him'. And he did. They were quite friendly."



Following the dismissal of Frank Rijkaard in the summer of 2008, Jose Mourinho was interviewed for the post of the vacant seat following recommendation from Pep Guardiola, who at the time was in charge of the Barcelona B. He was widely tipped to get the nod ahead of both Arsene Wenger and then Villareal manager, Manuel Pellegrini. But Barca directors, Txiki Begiristain— now of Manchester City— and Ingla, were concerned about his propensity to court controversy in the media in addition to his overly pragmatic if not negative tactics, a system that doesn't fit well into the club's famed attacking style. Thus, the club appointed the inexperienced Pep, to the amazement of the man himself and the public in general.



Mourinho who had promised to be back in Barcelona when he left in 2000 was reportedly exasperated. While even he may not publicly agree to it, sources close to him suggested he didn't take the snub kindly. Then in 2010, Mourinho's Inter knocked Barça off their perch in a two-legged semi final. In the aftermath of the match at the Nou Camp, the Portuguese ran onto the pitch, with his fingers up in celebration in a rub-it-in-your-face celebration. It was more like getting one over those who could have been your current employers. It was vintage Mourinho- win and then rub it in your opponent's face. This was perhaps the beginning of the strain in their relationship as the events in the next two years would unveil.



With Real Madrid in the shadows of bitter rival, Barcelona, Real president, Florentino Pérez looked to Mourinho to restore dominance. At a coach conference in Nyon, Ferguson had warned Pep of the intending danger of competing with his former friend in the same league, albeit in a jest, with the remark; "prepare yourself, Jose is on the way.” To which he replied; "it won't be so bad."



Talk of failed prophecies and the Spaniard's comment would rank first. What ensued in the next two years was bitter, rocky and a pale shadow of the mutual respect both used to have for each other. The apex was reached in April 2011, following a run of 4 games in 11 days across the league, Copa del Rey and the Champions League semi-finals. It is still believed in some sections that Pep stepped down from Barça as a result of his incessant rivalry with his old boss. Although, knowing Pep well, it's hardly surprising given he's always harboured the desire to test himself outside his comfort zone. But such was the height of the rivalry that his decision to go on a sabbatical was largely attributed to Jose.



On the field, Pep largely won the battle with 5 wins, including that memorable 5 nil defeat in Jose's first el clásico at Nou Camp, 4 draws and 2 losses. Not bad for a ‘loser', eh? Manchester United, just like Real Madrid before them, were in dire need of a Mourinho-esque personality and brilliance following their downward slope into mediocrity as a result of the departure of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, and that paved the way for the sacked Chelsea boss. Meanwhile at the blue half of Manchester, the Abu Dhabi's own desire to cement their place amongst the crème de la crème as well as playing a unique attacking brand of football had led them to Guardiola some three months prior to the unveiling of the ‘special one'.



The appointments of both managers quickly set tongues wagging on what could be given the tense history between both elite coaches. In all fairness, the fireworks have not particularly been lit; well, so far... and both managers have been keen to pour cold water on any suggestions there could be a repeat of the unpalatable incidents that were the norm whilst in Spain. With Mourinho himself saying, "My experience does not allow me to be naive. I was in Spain for two years, where the champion would be me or him. There, individual battles make more sense because they can affect the outcome (of the title race). If in the Premier League I were to focus on him and Manchester City and he were to focus on me and Manchester United, someone else would be champion. The level of the Premier League is going to get better with the players and coaches who will come...”  This couldn't have been further from the truth as Manchester United have been one step below their neighbours and finished a distant second in City's record-breaking title winning season- a simple case of choosing your battle, for Jose.



It remains to be seen what would be if they get locked in a title challenge, a cup final or a Champions League match as was so regularly the case in Spain. However, so far both have been serene and respectful towards each other with the City boss even backing his Manchester rival to keep his job, aftermath of the latter's 3-2 defeat to Spurs in August, labeling him a ‘top top manager'. A gesture unthinkable some six seasons ago.



While mutual respect has been the order of the day in Manchester, their relationship is not as bright as it once was and one wonders if it needs only one or two tense moments during the season to put their new found ‘bromance' to test. But until then Manchester is safe... at least for now.