“Jose needs to ask me”

Jose Mourinho documentary director Joe Pearlman has revealed that Pep Guardiola was ready to feature in the series. The Spaniard wanted his counterpart to make the request directly, which resulted in the former Chelsea manager refusing to do so.

Speaking to Football Ramble, Pearlman said they contacted Guardiola and asked whether he would be open to appearing in the documentary. The former Manchester City manager was quick to accept, but on the condition that Mourinho would personally ask him. The director hinted that it was met with a stern refusal from the current Real Madrid manager and said:

“We did try and get Pep Guardiola. We approached him and he said: ‘Absolutely, I will do this, but Jose needs to ask me’.”

Jose Mourinho is back at Real Madrid this season, but will not be facing Pep Guardiola again. The Spaniard has taken his second break from football management, while his Portuguese counterpart has claimed that he enjoys football every day.

“I cannot even imagine when I am going to stop my life in football. I say 10 more years, but maybe more than 10. It’s fun. It was, it is and will always be fun. I want to win more titles. I want to win new titles. I want to repeat titles. I want to do it in places where I have never been. I want to do it in places where I did before.”

“My world is to walk in a football stadium with 50,000 or 90,000 [fans]. I had 100,000. That is my world. Without football, there is not something complete in me. But I don’t think it is an obsession. I don’t feel it as an obsession. It is just when you reach a certain level, you want to stay there forever.”

Pep Guardiola cut short his contract at Manchester City and left after the 2025/26 season. He was in talks to become the Italy coach, but rejected the chance after initial talks.

Jose Mourinho took subtle dig at Pep Guardiola in documentary

Jose Mourinho took a cheeky dig at Pep Guardiola in his documentary, saying that he cannot understand those who take breaks from football. He claimed that it was a sign of weakness and said:

“Some guys, they need a sabbatical – which is something that I hate. I hate that word. For me, sabbatical means weakness. Don’t speak with me about sabbaticals. I never need a rest. I will have a rest when he (Mourinho points to the sky) decides to say: ‘Come up’.”

Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have faced off 25 times as managers, with the Spaniard holding the edge. The former Barcelona and Manchester City manager has won 12 times, while the Portuguese manager has managed just seven.