There will be new faces in the dugouts at both Manchester clubs for next season.
In the red corner, Jose Mourinho takes charge of Manchester United as he returns to the Premier League soon after his Chelsea dismissal with the aim of returning the Old Trafford club to its past glories.
Meanwhile in blue, Pep Guardiola will be at Manchester City as they look to finally establish themselves on the European stage and win the title, as they last did in 2013/14.
The two appointments have been talked about for some time now and, naturally, attention is turning to when the two will meet in their first Manchester derby.
An already huge fixture in the Premier League calendar has just been given an extra dynamic. Arguably the two best managers in world football in charge of two of the biggest hitters in the game, both with a wealth of resources, promises to be an absolute tinderbox for fans the world over to enjoy.
Guardiola and Mourinho have clashed on a number of occasions both on and off of the pitch and ahead of the latest chapter of their intertwining careers, here at FootballFanCast we’ve taken a look at the best games involving the two managers to bring you the greatest FIVE…
Barcelona 1-0 Inter Milan Champions League 2nd leg Semi Final 2009/10
The first leg had finished 3-1 at the San Siro to Inter Milan, so Guardiola’s men knew at least two goals were needed to get through. Barca’s hopes were improved as Mourinho saw his side reduced to 10 men in the middle of the first half, but the Italians stood firm and put in a typically resolute performance. Barca managed one goal but could not break the Nerazzuri’s defence down, and upon the final whistle the former Porto man famously ran on to the Nou Camp pitch, arms aloft, to celebrate, in the process igniting a rivalry that would soon reach fever pitch the following season.
Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid La Liga 2010/11
Mourinho’s first ‘El Clasico’ is one he will not want to be reminded of. The Catalan hosts ran riot with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi orchestrating a humiliating defeat for Real. Guardiola’s team looked set to sweep all before them and this was a statement that set shockwaves around the world. It was here Mourinho realised the size of the job he had on to stop Guardiola and his tiki-taka football.
Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona Copa del Rey Final 2010/11
This was the second in a run of four titanic games in a matter of a few weeks. Barcelona were set to win the league but with this game and a set of Champions League semi finals to be played, Mourinho still sensed he could be the one with the most medals come the end of the season. The final went to extra time where Cristiano Ronaldo hit the winner to the joy of his compatriot manager as the rivalry ramped up a few more notches ahead of the semis.
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Real Madrid 0-2 Barcelona Champions League 1st leg Semi Final 2010/11
The animosity between the two coaches was already evident in their pre-match comments ahead this one, but it was Barcelona who handled the pressure better for a famous win at the Bernabeu. It was a tight affair that looked set for a goal-less stalemate before Lionel Messi hit two late strikes, the second a fine solo effort that left Madristas and their team’s defence reeling. Barcelona would go on to win the final that year after a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp in the second leg booked them a place at Wembley.
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Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid Spanish Super Cup 2nd Leg 2011/12
The first leg had finished 2-2 at the Bernabeu but it was the return at the Nou Camp that saw the rivalry boil over. A 3-2 win for Barca was completely overshadowed by a brawl that saw Mourinho poke then Guardiola’s assistant, Tito Vilanova, in the eye. The fight broke out after Marcelo put in a nasty challenge on Cesc Fabregas and the scenes that followed led Gerard Pique to say Mourinho was destroying Spanish football.
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