Pep Guardiola responds to Jose Mourinho dig and has stand-off with reporter

The Manchester City boss issued a response to Jose Mourinho ahead of his side's trip to Crystal Palace this weekend.

Their back-and-forth stems from Guardiola holding up six fingers for each of his titles against Liverpool on Sunday.

He then said he hoped not to suffer the same fate as Mourinho after he did the same not long before being sacked by Manchester United.

However, the three-time Premier League winner responded by saying: "Guardiola said something yesterday.

"He won six trophies and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly.

READ MORE MAN CITY NEWS

Man City 'accidentally' made Lionel Messi bid before signing that shook football

'I won fairly': Jose Mourinho issues savage response to Pep Guardiola title brag

"If I lost, I want to congratulate my opponent because he was better than me. I don't want to win by dealing with 150 lawsuits."

Guardiola was asked about the comments on Friday as he spoke ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park.

"It was a joke," he said with a laugh, before repeating more seriously, "It was a joke.

"It's another one for the huge list in this country and around the world that they want us in League One, they want us at the bottom.

Most read in Football

EFL club 'incredibly disappointed' at surprise date for FA Cup trip to Everton

Cristiano Ronaldo drags Karim Benzema away from Portugal teammate after iconic celebration

Man United wonderkid wanted by Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy in January transfer

'Maybe he's not that guy' - Harry Kane attribute questioned by Lukas Podolski

"But I would say to Jose the same as I say to everyone else - we are innocent until proven guilty. After that, we'll see what happens, but it's what it is.

"So it was completely a joke.

"I think with both our teams, him with Chelsea, myself with Man City, we can sit at the table with Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, right?

"For the many, many titles we won. And I'm pretty sure sooner or later they will congratulate us.

"The joke from Arne Slot was his business, not my business. Talking about what I said, if I've offended him [Mourinho], I'm so sorry… but it was a joke.

"The fact is he had three, I had six. So this is a fact.

"But the intention was completely fine."

A reporter then attempted to ask Guardiola another question, seemingly continuing the conversation around this back-and-forth with Mourinho, but the City boss shut him down.

The journalist began: "Hi, Pep. You just talking about being able, you and Mourinho being able to sit…"

But Guardiola interrupted: "No, listen, enough.

"Don't ask me that. I answer quite well. I answer the question about Jose, it's no more."

The reporter tried again: "What I was going to say…"

But, again, Guardiola stepped in: "Don't try it."

The journalist was then allowed to ask his question, though, which was not about Mourinho at all, but whether he envisaged rivalling Ferguson and Wenger for trophies won when he first arrived at Man City in 2016.

Furious Pep Guardiola held back from Liverpool fan in new video

"No, no, no," the Spaniard replied.

"I remember many people say, 'Yeah, he wins', you know, because it's Barca now with Leo Messi and the other ones, and, 'He has to prove himself in England'.

"OK. We did it."

The boss was also asked if he has had many conversations with either of the legendary Premier League coaches since taking the City job, and admitted he has a good relationship with both Ferguson and Wenger - who he called a 'gentleman'.

"With Sir Alex, a few [conversations]," he said.

"Now, maybe not in a long period, but in the first year it was a lot. We were at charity events together and it was good.

"With Arsene, since he retired, has been incredible. But Arsene is a gentleman for many, many years. The last time he came here we had a big chat.

"Now he has this role within FIFA and it's important that these figures are in world football.

"Of course, both of them had incredible success at United and Arsenal, Jose at Chelsea, and I would say ourselves here at City.

"But when I'm sitting with them we don't talk about how good we were and how many titles we have won - this kind of stuff is ridiculous.

Read More on talkSPORT

I couldn't stand arrogant Ibrahimovic and our fight forced him to leave club within days

Frank Warren thrilled as 'greatest boxing card ever' is confirmed featuring Daniel Dubois

"We talk about life, this experience. Sir Alex asked me about how it is in England, I asked him about his experience in how many years in United, and with Arsene I asked him about the impact of changing from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium.

"We don't talk about results or the trophies we win or lose - when you lift the trophy, it's nice, you just have another number."