Pep Guardiola has responded following Jose Mourinho's barbed comments that he won three Premier League titles "fairly and cleanly".
Manchester City boss Guardiola was compared to the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager after he raised six fingers towards the Liverpool fans, following his side's recent 2-0 defeat against the Reds, indicating the amount of Premier League trophies he has won to date.
Mourinho - who won three league titles at Stamford Bridge - had similarly held up three fingers to opposing fans during an underwhelming league campaign at Old Trafford, before being sacked in December 2018 after a loss to Liverpool.
"Guardiola said something about me... he won six trophies and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly," Turkish outlet Hurriyet quoted Fenerbahce boss Mourinho as saying on Friday, ahead of his side's clash with Besiktas.
"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 court cases."
Mourinho was alluding to City's 115 charges over alleged violations of the Premier League's financial rules ranging from 2009 to 2018, which the club have always denied.
On Friday afternoon, Guardiola was asked about Mourinho's comments.
"It was a joke. It was a joke," the Spaniard said.
"He's another one in a huge list that wants the team to be in... I don't know, in League One or in the Conference.
"I would say to Jose the same - we are innocent until proven guilty and, after that, we will see what happens. It is what it is. It was completely a joke.
"With our teams, him with Chelsea, myself with Man City, we can sit at the table with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, for the many, many titles we have won.
"I'm pretty sure, sooner or later, he will congratulate us."
He added: "If I have offended him, I'm so sorry. But it was a joke. The fact is he has three, I have six. This is a fact, but the intention was completely fine.
"It's another one on the huge list in this country and around the world that want us there in the bottom.
"Like I've said many times, wait for the sentence. Everyone - especially in a democracy - is innocent until guilt is proven, right?"
HERMANNO19
91
It is obvious that Guardiola acts like he forgot... Chelsea has been fined in the past. Remember that season when Lampard was in charge and because of the transfer ban, Chelsea had to deal with the academy players and the squad they had in hand ?
Nam_So
90
📊 | Pep Guardiola has won as many premier league tittles (6) in the last 7 years as Jose Mourinho has been sacked (6). 👏
Fidelityguy
63
We all know city are guilty but Premier league are corrupt to punish you ✅❌
Turtu
29
I dare Pep to win a Champions League with Porto.
Himbcmp
24
Mourinho is a jealous person , he knows he can’t coach big teams anymore his philosophy has a coach is limited, let him make the money he can, soon will be fired from fenerbache
Etilomi0147
19
Winning the UCL with FC Porto and Inter Milan is much more greater than Pep, his life, his achievement and his career. Jose have done the impossible in football. Pep should go and win the Europa league with Roma or the UCL with Porto……fraud ma
Saobmnsuyz
18
well spoken Sir pep Guardiola I love this man.
Shmonny
15
When you Fail,you will think others will fail too because you think it's impossible!. You will later become so jealous and fraustrated and think that they Cheat or use another negative way to succeed!
Huzilortz
12
It is obvious that Guardiola acts like he forgot... Chelsea has been fined in the past. Remember that season when Lampard was in charge and because of the transfer ban, Chelsea had to deal with the academy players and the squad they had in hand ?
Irrelevant comment so just shut-up I'll-hearted supporter. Guardiola is the King of EPL & the best in the world. The so called 115 cases did they interfere with the play on the field? Was it not 11 players against 11 on the field of play? Just Shut Up losers
Davichi
9
It is obvious that Guardiola acts like he forgot... Chelsea has been fined in the past. Remember that season when Lampard was in charge and because of the transfer ban, Chelsea had to deal with the academy players and the squad they had in hand ?
And what has that got to do with what he said? If you don't want to acknowledge what he has achieved, it's fine, but don't talk meaningless stuff. Mour wasn't there when Chelsea got fined and Pep wasn't even at City when those alleged crimes were committed. Pep has proven himself as the best tactician of this generation and there's nothing that will change it. It's just a shame that people like you will always try to play down on what others have achieved. Maybe it's envy...