Mourinho: Guardiola Rivalry Won't Be The Same

Jose Mourinho insists he has no plans to reignite his personal rivalry with Pep Guardiola as it could affect Manchester United's chances of winning the Premier League.

Guardiola and Mourinho will face each other for the first time in English football when they take charge of Manchester City and United respectively next season.

The two managers share a history of animosity stemming from their time in charge of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.

However, Mourinho says he cannot afford to focus on Guardiola next year, as he admits he did at times in Spain, as United face a greater number of rivals in England.

"[What has happened in the past] does not allow me to be innocent. For​ two years Pep and I were in a league where the champion would be either me or him, Real Madrid or Barcelona," Mourinho told a group of football coaches in Lisbon on Tuesday.

"In a situation like this,​ individual fights make sense because they can influence things. But in the Premier League, if I focus on him and Manchester City, and he on me and Manchester United, someone else is going to win the league."

Mourinho began his duties as United's new manager on Monday and was given a guided tour of the club's training facilities by Sir Bobby Charlton and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

The Portuguese has already secured the long-term signings of young talents Marcus Rashford and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson but remained coy when questioned on the possible signing of Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"My good friends always rave about me," Mourinho said, responding to Ibrahimovic's complimentary comments earlier this month.