“Congratulations to both of them.”
Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho were expected to renew their previously toxic rivalry in Manchester, but it hasn’t transpired that way at all. When he was Real Madrid manger, and Pep was Barcelona coach, Mourinho waged war on Guardiola, and at times it became nasty. However, relations between the pair have been more professional in Manchester. Mourinho has rarely attempted to goad the Manchester City manager, and Guardiola doesn’t seem prepared to respond anyway. Antonio Conte is now the Manchester United manager’s enemy.
If a war of words was going to escalate between the pair in the Premier League, it would have happened by now. City are 12 points ahead of United, there was a reported dressing room scuffle between the two teams last month, and the Red Devils have beaten their rivals to the signing of Alexis Sanchez. Yet, the two managers say very little about each other in public. Even losing out on Sanchez isn’t enough for Guardiola to have pop at United and Mourinho.
The Arsenal forward was expected to sign for City, who had been chasing him since last summer. He was understood to have already agreed personal terms with the Premier League leaders. However, United blew City out of the water with their offer to Sanchez – who will reportedly become the fourth-highest paid footballer in the world at Old Trafford – and the player is on the verge of joining the club. But, if Sanchez has broken a gentleman’s agreement with City, then Pep doesn’t seem too bothered about it.
BREAKING: Sanchez to United is OFF pic.twitter.com/H0OIjIcXji
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 18, 2018
Guardiola was asked about the astronomical figures involved in the Sanchez transfer. If he wanted to have a dig at the player, Mourinho or United, this was his chance, but instead the Catalan chose to wish Sanchez well.
“I’m not a guy with the mathematics, with the numbers, so all I know right now is he is still an Arsenal player, Alexis Sanchez,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday, ahead of City’s game with Newcastle United.
“I think he’s going to go to United, so congratulations to both of them. At the end the players when they have contenders, decide where they are going to play, even their managers decide where they are going to play, so good luck.”
Guardiola was asked once again about Sanchez’s transfer, but wouldn’t bite and simply said that it had been a “pleasure” to work with the Chilean during their time together at Barcelona.
“I repeat the same, the players and their managers decide what is the best for both of them. There’s nothing to add. My opinion of Alexis remains the same. It was a pleasure to be with him at Barcelona and he has decided to move to another club and I wish him all the best.”
Sanchez’s transfer, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s move to Arsenal, are expected to be completed at some point over the weekend.
