Guardiola loves a big-game challenge

PEP GUARDIOLA insists he was born to be a boss in football’s biggest derbies.

Guardiola (left) gets another chance to put one over his old rival Jose Mourinho when he takes his Manchester City side to Old Trafford tomorrow.

City need a win to stretch their lead over second-placed Manchester United to 11 points, but three points for Mourinho will open up the title race.

And Guardiola cannot wait to ® immerse himself in the atmosphere of another Manchester showdown.

“I said many times – when I was at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now here – that I am a manager for this kind of game,” he said. “I am looking forward to arriving there. I love to be part of it.”

There is a bitter history between the two bosses, going back to the days when Guardiola was in charge at Barcelona and Mourinho at Real Madrid.

Last season Guardiola finished empty-handed for the first time in his coaching career, having won 21 trophies in seven years in Spain and Germany. Mourinho boasts a record of 25 trophies in 17 years.

Despite the simmering rivalry, Guardiola added: “We are twins. We want to win trophies. Antonio Conte is the same as well, and Jurgen (Klopp) and Mauricio (Pochettino).”

And he dismissed the idea his reputation for producing free-flowing football made him a cut above Mourinho.

He said: “I never criticise my colleagues for the way they play. I never did in the past, I will never do it.

“Football is magnificent for that, because every manager plays in the way they play. There are different ways to enjoy football. It’s simple.”

Guardiola, meanwhile, hit back at Mourinho’s claims he was playing mind games over David Silva’s fitness.

The Spaniard has been cleared to play at Old Trafford despite a muscle problem.

And Guardiola said: “There was a big doubt about his playing (after the West Ham game) but he says he is really good so he is going to play.”