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August 30, 2013
Star Sport


 

Mourinho, Guardiola renew rivalry in Super Cup

PRAGUE (AP):

Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho renew their rivalry today when Bayern Munich and Chelsea meet in the UEFA Super Cup, giving both coaches an opportunity to win a first piece of continental silverware with their new clubs.

When Guardiola and Mourinho were coaching Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, they met in 11 "el clasico" matches and were hardly complimentary about each other.

Things appear to have changed, though.

"It's not about me and Pep," said Mourinho, who is back at Chelsea for a second spell. "It's about Chelsea and it's about Bayern Munich. And it's about the Super Cup where the European champion (plays) against the Europa League champion. And Pep's not the European champion and I'm not the Europa League champion.

"We just coach now the European champion and the Europa League champion. So, this is not about us, it's about Chelsea and Bayern."

Guardiola, who ended his one-year sabbatical to take over at Bayern, echoed that.

"Millions, millions people around the world are watching these two marvelous teams, two marvelous clubs, for the players, not for the coaches," Guardiola said.

After winning the Super Cup with Barcelona in 2009 and 2011, Guardiola can become the first coach to win the trophy three times, while his opponent has never won it.

Bayern were European football's dominant force last year, winning the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the German Cup.

"Only perfect teams can do it," said Mourinho, who name-checked attacking midfielders Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben as players to watch.

Under Mourinho, Chelsea have started the English season strongly by picking up seven points out of a possible nine in the Premier League and will be coming off a 0-0 draw at reigning champions Manchester United on Monday.

Guardiola will struggle to better Bayern's unprecedented success of last season, although the German power has never won a Super Cup.

However, the former Spain mid-fielder is regarded as one of Europe's premier coaches, winning 14 titles over four seasons at Barca, and lost just two of those 11 matches against Mourinho.

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