Guardiola and Mourinho have endured an often acrimonious relationship so far during their time in management, most notably during their time Spain, and they will lock horns once again less than a month into their respective reigns in Manchester.
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In the first game of the trip, United was roundly smacked by Dortmund, losing 4-1 in a game in Shanghai.
Mourinho criticised the conditions at the Bird’s Nest stadium where torrential rain is forecast for next 24 hours.
“I think Beijing is unlucky because the pitch is very bad, ‘ he said”. “The most important thing is that the players are not going to be injured but we also know that it’s so important to come here to know the people and to play a good two games against unbelievable teams like United and (Borussia) Dortmund”.
More than 70 groundstaff have been working day and night to ensure the pitch is safe to play on, but Mourinho and Guardiola fear their players have been put in unnecessary danger by organisers of the International Champions Cup.
“It is the end and we can nearly go home and train in conditions where the players are safe”, he said. “Not a friendly. Maybe, with these conditions, it’s a double friendly”. “It is nearly the end and we can go home and train in conditions where the players are safe”, he said.
The cancellation is definitive, since both clubs have strict traveling schedules and there’s no other date available to accommodate a new game.
City and United were due to meet at the Bird’s Nest stadium today, but concerns over the playing surface saw the game called off.
Mourinho was also unimpressed with the standard of questioning by the media. The plane was not good.
“We’re so sorry. If we could change it, we want to play right now but that’s the final decision and we can’t play”.
“Manchester City have all of their players. We have six, seven or eight, which played in the Euros”, he said.
Mourinho now just wants to cope with the issues around the City match and get back to England safely.
Asked why the club has come to China for pre-season, Mourinho added: “It’s good for the fans and for the commercial side of things”.
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“We know the humidity for the training is not ideal but we also know that it’s so important to come here to know the people and to play a good two games against wonderful teams like United and Dortmund”.
