Manchester United fans will be counting down until the end of the international break, as Jose Mourinho is expected to face questions about Manchester City's breaches of financial rules when domestic football resumes.
Mourinho is set to speak to the Spanish media before Real Madrid's game against Villarreal. Local press may ask about City's breaches, given he finished second in the Premier League in 2017/2018, but a British correspondent could also be sent to his press conference.
Mourinho's history of jibes
The Portuguese is known for his quotable remarks, and there is a clear incentive to get him on the record about City's breaches, which have rocked the football world in recent days. When Mourinho spoke before Fenerbahce's game against United two years ago, he cheekily hinted he had not given up hope of being retrospectively awarded the 2017/2018 Premier League title.
"As you know, we won the Europa League [in 2017] and we finished second in the Premier League [in 2018]," he said. "I think we still have a chance to win that league because maybe they punish Man City with points and maybe we win that league and then they have to pay me the bonus and give me the medal."
Feud with Guardiola
Mourinho made another dig at City a few months later. "He (Guardiola) won six trophies and I won three, but I won fairly and cleanly. 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 lawsuits," Mourinho said.
Mourinho felt compelled to make a fresh jibe as Pep Guardiola had pointed to the pair's league title records, with the Catalan referring to the trophies after raising six fingers during City's 2-0 defeat against Liverpool. Guardiola was reminded of the three-finger salute Mourinho made as United's manager after a loss to Tottenham in August 2018, which appeared to be the beginning of the end for him in Manchester.
Retrospective title hopes
"I hope not in my case... He won three, I won six," said Guardiola, prompting Mourinho to issue his "150 lawsuits" zinger. There was another instance of Mourinho having a pop at City when he sat down with Rio Ferdinand for a podcast. "There is a chance we win that league (17/18), no?" he said with a cheeky smile on his face. "If Man City is caught in financial fair play, breaking the rules, maybe they lose a few points, and then we will win that title."
Mourinho is the only one who has suggested that titles could be awarded retrospectively. David de Gea and Juan Mata, a big part of United's team that season, have floated the idea since the City bombshell dropped last week. It will be fascinating to hear what Mourinho says about the debacle if he is asked about City after the international break, which feels likely. He wasn't afraid to hint they should be punished even before the verdict dropped - so his quotes could be explosive this time.
