"I don't want Guardiola relegated, I just want justice" - Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho refutes Pep Guardiola's claims of wanting Man City relegated, calls for fairness in football, and denies a renewed rift with Guardiola.

Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola during their days as managers of Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Ever-dramatic football manager Jose Mourinho has hit back at Pep Guardiola over the latter’s claims that the Portuguese manager is among a “huge list of people who want Manchester City relegated,” with Mourinho saying he only wants justice.

Guardiola recently responded to the jibes of Liverpool fans at Anfield by gesturing with his fingers, showing he has won six titles in the Premier League, something that got Mourinho on edge as he declared in a news conference that he won three titles “fair and square,” relating to City’s 115 charges.

Speaking ahead of Fenerbahce's Europa League match against Athletic Bilbao, Mourinho refuted his desire for Manchester City to be relegated, but he expressed his frustration with smaller clubs bearing the financial burden of what larger clubs can afford.

Mourinho stated, "It's not true that I want Man City to relegate." "It's true that I value fairness, and frequently, the Financial Fair Play rules penalize small clubs by going €5 or €10 over budget."

For instance, I endured hardships and significant limitations during my three years in Roma. I believe it's unfair that the big sharks, specifically those especially bigger clubs with bigger wallets, consistently find ways to circumvent the rules.

"I'm just a football man—a man that loves football. More than being a professional football man, I am very passionate; I just like justice in football. Apart from that, I harbor no negative emotions.

Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola had three years of fierce rivalry in Spain when both were managers of Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively, but the Portuguese has played down talks of a fresh rift between the two accomplished managers.

"In relation to Pep, let me say something—we were together for three years [at Barcelona]," Mourinho said. "I was an assistant, and he was a player." I like him a lot, and he knows that. He likes me, and I know that there are no problems between us. One thing is words, and another thing is deep feelings."