Pep keen to shake off Jose hostility
MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola downplayed a renewal of hostilities with Jose Mourinho, scoffing at the suggestion he would not shake his Manchester United counterpart’s hand.
China was the unlikely setting earlier today for the rivals’ first meeting since the 2013 Super Cup between Bayern Munich and Chelsea, with Beijing’s imposing Bird’s Nest Stadium playing host to the first-ever Manchester derby on foreign soil.
The pair endured a fractious relationship when managing Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, with the subject of that rivalry quickly arising on the eve of the International Champions Cup encounter.
Guardiola was quick to bat away questions over his relationship with Mourinho, though, and sees no reason why there will be anything but a “really friendly game” in the Chinese capital.
“We are polite guys,” Guardiola said, looking surprised to be asked whether he would shake Mourinho’s hand.
“Why should we not shake hands? He will want to win, I will want to win. That’s all.”
It is the pitch in Beijing rather than old foe Mourinho and United that most worried Guardiola. Heavy rainfall over the past week has damaged the playing surface.
An International Champions Cup spokesperson said the surface would be “fine”, but Guardiola’s concerns were as clear.
“We didn’t see the pitch but there is a lot of water in the last days so we understand it’s not in a good condition, but OK we’re going to adapt and adjust,” the City boss said.
“The most important thing is that the players avoid injury.”