Pep vs Jose: This time it’s for real

After the phony war of their first season in Manchester, the rivalry between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will resume for real in tomorrow’s seismic derby showdown at Old Trafford.

The two managers renewed acquaintances at the beginning of last season after Mourinho took the reins at Manchester United and Guardiola set up shop across town at Manchester City.

Guardiola claimed first blood, leading City to a 2-1 win at Old Trafford in September 2016, but both teams fell by the wayside thereafter, finishing the campaign well adrift of Premier League champions Chelsea.

Fifteen games into the new season, City are eight points clear of United at the head of the table and Sunday’s game is being billed as Mourinho’s big chance to stick a spoke in Guardiola’s wheels.

“We have a big week, with Swansea and Tottenham following the United game,” says City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.

“If we lost two out of three and they win everything, they are there.”

Seven months on City look almost transcendent, their sublime and devastatingly effective possession football reminiscent of Guardiola’s great Barcelona team.

Having won their last 13 league games, they can set a new mark for successive wins within an English top-flight campaign if they prevail on Sunday.

Recent results, however, give United reason for optimism.