Tottenham boss José Mourinho has said that his rivalry with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has entered a 'new chapter', playing down any perceived animosity between the two.
Mourinho was appointed Spurs boss back in late November after they sacked Mauricio Pochettino, and this will be the first time he has faced off against his old adversary since taking over in north London.
However, the Portuguese focussed more on the time that the two spent together at Barcelona rather than the countless times they have faced off against each other on the touchline.
Ahead of the game in his pre-match press conference, reported by Sky Sports, Mourinho said: "With him I remember more the three years we fought on the same side, working together at the same club.
"The space of the work every day for three years. I remember more that than what people can speak about rivalry. Then, of course, Barcelona and Real Madrid, Inter and Barcelona in the Champions League, City and United, now Tottenham and City.
"A new chapter for us because it's the first time, Tottenham against Manchester City with us. Never Jose and Josep, like he is in Catalan. For me, it's a game I want to win because I want my team to win and we need points. No more than that."
The two great managers have met so many times over the years; in Clasicos, Manchester derbies and huge Champions League clashes between Inter and Barcelona.
The 57-year-old spent four years with Barcelona between 1996 and 2000 working under Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal before finding his feet more firmly in the managerial game, and has insisted that he will be concentrated on the three points rather than any sort of rivalry between him and the Manchester City boss.
Whether or not what Mourinho has said will ring true on Sunday is yet to be seen, but it seems the former Manchester United and Chelsea boss is more level headed going into this clash with his familiar foe.
Source :
90min
