2013 UEFA Super Cup: Bayern Munich vs Chelsea - Guardiola and Mourinho renew old rivalry, with new empires

Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are set to renew their rivalry. (Getty Images)

It is as though fate does not want Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola to be separated; as if they were estranged lovers in a delusional parallel universe.

Mourinho, the new boss of Europa League winners Chelsea, is to meet old foe Guardiola – who took over the reins at treble winners Bayern Munich – in the UEFA Super Cup at the Eden Arena in Prague on August 30.

Guardiola’s best description of his nemesis was that he was a “puto amo”, ahead of Barcelona’s 2011 UEFA Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid, which they won 3-1 on aggregate, en route to thumping Manchester United (by the same score-line) in the final.

“In this (media) room, he’s the (puto amo) f***ing chief, the f***ing boss, and I can never compete with that.” – Pep Guardiola in 2011

It is no coincidence then that on his return to England, the self-anointed ‘Special One’ (now ‘Happy One’), proclaimed to become the new managerial father figure of the Premier League – a Godfather of sorts (all his words, of course) – as he tries to fill the void the now retired Sir Alex Ferguson left behind.

“I’m just going to be the Godfather. The big change in the Premier League in relation to us managers is that our boss (Sir Alex) isn’t there anymore.

“He (Sir Alex) was the guy everyone respected, admired and looked up to as the Dad of every manager in the Premier League, but he’s gone and for me, that’s the change.” – Jose Mourinho in 2013

Guardiola was a little more down to earth at his unveiling, wowing the Bayern hierarchy – and fans alike – by speaking fluent German. The Spaniard even apologised for not being able to articulate better, as living in New York had not made it easy to learn.

The duo came face-to-face on numerous occasions between 2010 and 2012 but the last El Clasico is something Guardiola would not like to remember fondly. A dramatic 2-1 win for Mourinho’s men at the Nou Camp earned Real Madrid the 2011-12 La Liga title; ending the Catalans’ run of three-straight championships.

In all, they have taken on each other on in 15 games (including four games from the Champions League when Mourinho was Inter Milan’s manager). And it is easily forgotten that Mourinho has only won three of those 15. Guardiola clearly has his Portuguese counterpart’s number, having won seven games between them. The five remaining of those games ended as stalemates.

Come Friday, both managers will take their rivalry to uncharted territory, only this time with a whole new empire. It is, however, rather ironic that despite neither manager participating in the 2012 Champions League or Europa League final, they will lead their teams out to battle.