JOSE MOURINHO has looked to play down the feud between Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pep Guardiola – and says the Swede chose the Premier League over Chinese money because it was a bigger challenge.
The Manchester United boss, 53, was speaking ahead of his first Manchester derby at Old Trafford where Zlatan is expected to start upfront after four goals since his summer move from PSG.
IMAGE: PA:Press Association
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Much has been made of the long-running bad-blood between City boss Pep Guardiola and the Swede forward, who savaged him in his book I Am Zlatan.
But the Special One was keen to play down any potential hostility – and praised Zlatan for turning down lucrative moves in favour of United.
He said: “I think he was Zlatan in every club with every manager in every country.
“So I don’t think it’s about the clubs or us managers. It’s about himself.
IMAGE: Reuters
“He’s a phenomenal player that arrives at the age of 34 and he wants more for his career.
“He didn’t want the Chinese money or the US dollars – he wanted the most difficult place to play football and win titles.
“Us managers and our contributions to him in motivational terms, I think is zero. it’s just his nature.”
IMAGE: PA:Press Association
Guardiola was keen to play down any reports of a rift – and had kind words for the United frontman.
He said: “Zlatan I have a lot of respect for what he has done in his career
“What he did everywhere is amazing.
“He is one of the best players.
“Some players need time to understand the league but the big players don’t.”
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Zlatan was scatching about the former Barca boss in his autobiography – and the pair are set to go head-to-head yet again.
He wrote: “Jose Mourinho is Guardiola’s opposite. If Mourinho brightens up the room, Guardiola pulls down the curtains.
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