Manchester derby: Jose Mourinho will take sting out of tempestuous relationship with Pep Guardiola by inviting him for a drink after derby
Manchester United boss has reinstated the English tradition of inviting opposing boss for a drink at Old Trafford
JOSE MOURINHO will bury the hatchet with Pep Guardiola by inviting him for a drink after the derby.
The feuding bosses clash in Saturday’s lunchtime duel at Old Trafford.
And Manchester United chief Mourinho is determined to keep up the tradition of sharing a glass of wine with the opposition manager in his office after the game.
Manchester City boss Guardiola is not accustomed to the matchday ritual in England.
But Mourinho had Sir Alex Ferguson’s old office refurbished to its previous state after former boss Louis van Gaal — who did not entertain rival managers — changed it into an analysis room.
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Former Barcelona chief Guardiola and ex-Real Madrid manager Mourinho have both tried to down play their bitter rivalry from their days in La Liga and when the Portuguese famously beat Barca in the 2010 Champions League semi-finals with Inter Milan.
Mourinho said when asked in his opening press conference about the challenge of Guardiola in Manchester that it was not about the managers but the players.
When Guardiola was asked whether he would have a meal with Mourinho, he suggested it might only happen if they bumped into each other rather than anything pre-arranged. Mourinho is actually a lot more laid-back than Guardiola over their rivalry, with the Spaniard taking a sabbatical from football in 2012-13 after seemingly being worn down by his opposite number.
Now the City boss must decide whether he can accept an invite to have a drink with a man who has annoyed him more than any other in his managerial career.