YOU HAVING A LAUGH, JOSE?
PEP GUARDIOLA and Jose Mourinho have traded blows ahead of today’s clash after the Spurs boss questioned Raheem Sterling’s England absence.
The City winger returned to his club at the start of the week after pulling out of Gareth Southgate’s squad with what was described as a “small” injury.
But Mourinho claimed he knew all along Sterling would be fit to start for City and called on Southgate to name and shame managers who try to get their players released from international duty.
Fanning the flames ahead of today’s clash, Mourinho spelled out his suspicions, saying: “Gareth, I read, supposedly said that some club managers put pressure on the players not to play for the national team.
“I would like him to say who. I would like him to say which are the coaches who put pressure on the players not to go.
“Of course we all know that Sterling’s going to play. When Eric Dier left the national team injured in the past month, he didn’t play two matches for Tottenham.
“But Raheem is going to play in this match. These are the little details that I think Gareth should explain to us all.”
That drew a withering response from Guardiola, who claimed Sterling only returned to training yesterday. “Mourinho
PEP GUARDIOLA has left the door open for Manchester City to move for Lionel Messi – despite claiming he hopes the superstar ends his career at Barcelona.
After tying Guardiola down two more years until 2023, City will intensify efforts to reunite him with Messi, by trying to sign him as a free agent next summer.
Guardiola said: “I would like as a Barcelona fan for Leo to finish there. But he finishes the contract this year and I don’t know what’s going to happen in his mind.
“Right now he’s a Barcelona player and the transfer market will be in June and July.” has to speak to the doctor for the national team of England and the doctor for City,” said the Etihad boss.
“He has to go to the doctors of the national team and City. Except maybe Mourinho is a doctor, I don’t know.”
Later asked about Mourinho hinting City’s players go down too easily when fouled, he said: “Listen, I’m not going to answer anything about Jose.
“I said about the doctor, because he accused us of something we’ve done that is not true. You have to speak to the doctors about these other things, don’t ask me.
“I’m almost 50. I’m old enough to understand.”