Aitor Karanka has taunted Pep Guardiola by telling Manchester City boss Jose Mourinho is better than him
AITOR KARANKA has taunted Pep Guardiola by reminding him Jose Mourinho is already a trophy winner this season.
Middlesbrough boss Karanka previously said he thought Manchester United manager Mourinho was the best in the world.
And the Spaniard reckons he has been proved right after United’s Community Shield win and last month’s EFL Cup final triumph — while Guardiola’s cabinet at the Etihad is bare.
The Teesside chief can further dent his fellow countryman’s bid to lift a trophy in his first term in England by knocking Manchester City out of the FA Cup this afternoon.
Karanka said: “The best coach in the world is Jose Mourinho.
“He has shown it at Porto, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid and United.
“I’ve never worked with Pep but Jose started this season with some criticism but has already won two trophies for United. Jose is the best.”
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Asked if Guardiola needed to win the Premier League title to prove he is up there with Mourinho, 43-year-old Karanka added: “Yes, I think so. He has shown he can win titles in Spain with Barcelona and with Bayern Munich in Germany.
“And he probably thought he would do the same in England.
“But now I think he has realised this is a different football, a different league — he has realised how difficult the challenge is.
“Is this his toughest job? Yes, because he has previously taken over at clubs who were already very strong.
“But the coach’s life is always about challenges.”
Guardiola, 46, was frosty with Karanka following November’s 1-1 Etihad draw when Boro’s Marten de Roon snatched an injury-time equaliser.
The pair’s rivalry dates back to their days in Spain.
Guardiola played for Barcelona before becoming their boss, while Karanka played for and then coached Real Madrid as Mourinho’s No 2.
But Karanka is ready to welcome Pep into his office for a drink after today’s quarter-final.
The Boro boss added: “I don’t have a relationship with him. I never played with him for Spain.
“He was very frustrated in November. A team like City dropping points against a newly-promoted team like Middlesbrough, it was difficult for him.
“But of course I will have a glass of wine with him — or maybe he prefers cava instead.
“It’s an amazing tradition here. That moment after the match I think is really important.”
As well as that draw earlier this season, Karanka also enjoyed a shock FA Cup fourth-round win at the Etihad two years ago when Boro were still in the Championship.
But he admits their recent record against City counts for nothing today.
Karanka said: “It’s completely different. Back then, we were a surprise for everybody but now we are not.
“Nobody expected our level at the start of the season but now everyone knows we are a really organised team.”
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