Pep Guardiola says he has nothing but huge respect for Jose Mourinho as the duo prepare to renew their professional rivalry for the first time since Mourinho took charge at Spurs.


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The City boss and the Portuguese counterpart know each other well for their respective time in charge in Spain and more latterly England with Mourinho having formerly been manager of both Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Mourinho was appointed to replace Mauricio Pochettino as Spurs manager in late November but has endured mixed fortunes so far in his time in North London after a similar frustrating end to histenure at Old Trafford..

Guardiola however says Mourinho’s remarkable record of achievement over the past two decades merits means he views him with the utmost respect ahead of City’s trip to Tottenham on Sunday.

“He is a manager with a lot of experience and success is not about to cannot be judged on his time at United or just one season,” said the boss at the his pre-match press conference.

“What he has done for football for 15 or 20 years people who judge don’t understand,

“As a professional I judge my colleagues over many years.”