If footballers were rappers

Manchester City boss Guardiola has earned praise for City’s record-breaking Premier League winning streak this season, including a 2-1 derby victory at Old Trafford, with his side runaway leaders.

But Pardew feels Mourinho, who won the Europa League, Community Shield and League Cup in his first season at United, has a winning plan which sets him apart.

Jose and myself would love to win a game 4-0 playing flamboyant football, he said.

You can’t do that, you just have to find a way to win sometimes, and that’s the thing he does better than anyone else, including Pep, he wins more trophies. He gets a lot of criticism which I think is unfounded.

You get to the Community Shield by winning the Premier League or FA Cup. Then that’s another trophy. I don’t understand why people don’t think it’s a trophy. His targets and what he does are about winning. Simple as that.

As managers of course, particularly if you’re manager of Manchester United, you’re going to get criticised. Sir Alex Ferguson got criticised and went through periods where fans were baying for him.