In a Liga of their own
Mourinho and Pep’s sides have finally clicked this season
LONDON: It is the mouthwatering showdown that has been a year in the making.
When Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho were appointed at their respective Manchester clubs in the summer of 2016 English football fans licked their lips.
The rival managers’ incredible La Liga tussles with Barcelona and Real Madrid had now come to England.
Of course, it did not work out that way last season.
Both men had too much work to do to implement their own ideas for instant success in the English Premier League.
Mourinho had to unpick the damage done by Louis van Gaal’s “philosophy” at Old Trafford.
The fact he managed to win three trophies along the way was something special in itself.
Guardiola, meanwhile, was trying to get City to play like Barca, something too many players simply could not do. He also had a goalkeeper who could not save a shot.
But 12 months of hard work, and no little amount of spending, have transformed both sides.
The first five games have seen some scintillating football from City while United look a powerhouse of a side.
Both teams top the Premier League with exactly the same records – although City edge it on alphabetical order.
While the two coaches claim to have buried the hatchet from their battles in Spain, do not bet against it being dug up and sharpened again.
It turned ugly at times after Mourinho turned up at Real in the summer of 2010 with Barcelona La Liga champions.
In their first season going at each other, Barca beat Real 3-1 on aggregate in the Champions League semi-final on the way to lifting the trophy.
Guardiola’s Catalans also retained their league title ahead of Real but lost the King’s Cup final to Mourinho. The following season – 2011-12 – Mourinho gained revenge, winning La Liga with 100 points and a whopping record 121 goals.
There were insults, pokes in the eye and red cards to go with the goals.
While this was going on in Spain, United and City were having the most incredible title tussle in history which went to the last seconds.
It looked like we were set for an era of Manchester domination.
While both have won one title each since, neither side put the other under pressure.
After Alex Ferguson retired, United went into reverse and are now on their third manager in four years.
City’s treatment of title winners Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini left much to be desired.
But both clubs now believe they are right back on track.
United’s Honorary President Martin Edwards said last week: “I have got the buzz back now. I actually think we could be on to something.”
Meanwhile, City club legend and former chairman Francis Lee describes what he is witnessing as: “The best level of football I have ever seen from City and it is only going to get better.”
In the pubs of Manchester the debate rages as to who are better equipped to come out on top.
United fans will tell you they are made of stronger stuff while those in the blue half of the city will point to their incredible array of attacking talent as being the deciding factor.
Yet it is United who have actually spread the goals around more with eight players having scored for them this season, compared to five at City.
City finished third last season – nine points ahead of United in sixth.
Both clubs have addressed the reasons why they did not finish higher. For United it was not enough goals, for City it was conceding too many.
Guardiola’s stubborn approach, which demanded his team played the ball out from the back, often led to mistakes.
He recognised that and while he is not one to sit on a 1-0 lead, he is now more pragmatic.
His efforts to buy Jonny Evans showed he wanted tried and trusted Premier League defenders.
His purchase of Kyle Walker has helped in that sense as has his work with John Stones, who is three times the player he was at this stage last season.
Guardiola has paid attention to Stones more than any other player, such is his belief in his ability.
Walker and Benjamin Mendy advancing from fullback has given rivals so much to think about it has left more space for David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.
The partnership up front between Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus threatens to break all records.
However, here lies one little problem at City. You still sense some tension between Aguero and Jesus.
Why on earth when he had someone who is set to break the club’s all-time goalscoring record was Pep chasing Alexis Sanchez. It certainly was not to leave Jesus on the bench.
It seems Guardiola does not like dominant characters in the dressing room, as you can see from how he dealt with Joe Hart, Yaya Toure and at times Aguero.
But upset the brilliant Argentine and there could be consequences, such is his standing with teammates and fans.
It is in bonding players and team spirit where Mourinho has really been the master. The way he has turned around the mood at Old Trafford in just over a year has been remarkable. He has a team that will never give up.
There is strength in the spine with David De Gea, Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku has hit the ground running with seven goals in as many games.
So who is it going to be, or will Chelsea have a say too?
There appears to be a gap with the rest. Forget Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal.
Five seasons after City’s incredible and dramatic first Premier League title we look set for one hell of a battle again.
Power vs panache, Pep vs Jose, blue vs red. Watch it, drink it in.