Mourinho: Manchester derby not about me and Guardiola

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho
believes a reduced focus on the rivalry between
himself and Pep Guardiola is the "correct"
approach ahead of Thursday's derby at Manchester
City.
Guardiola and Mourinho famously locked horns
while in charge of Barcelona and Real Madrid on
either side of El Clasico's bitter divide between
2010 and 2012.
The stage was set for a similarly memorable battle
in Manchester this season, as each team won their
opening three Premier League matches before first-
half goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi
Iheanacho helped City to a 2-1 win over their rivals
at Old Trafford.
Both teams have since fallen off the pace in a title
race that is now the preserve of London, as Chelsea
aim to hold off Tottenham's impressive charge, and
a spot in the Champions League qualification
places is the main concern this week in the north
west, alongside matters of local pride.
As such, the notion of a grudge between the two
men in the dugout has taken a back seat and
Mourinho feels this is for the best.
"I see that now is the correct approach and the
previous one wasn't," he told Sky Sports, reflecting
upon early season hype.
"This is about the clubs, this is about the teams,
this is about the positions at the end of the season.
"This is not about myself and Guardiola, so I think
now is the correct approach."
United already have the EFL Cup for safekeeping
and are into the semi-finals of the Europa League
– the latter competition representing a navigable
route into the Champions League should they miss
out on the top four domestically.
By contrast, City were beaten by Arsenal in extra
time during Sunday's FA Cup semi-final and will
finish the season without a major honour as their
rivals sit a point and a place behind them in fifth.
Mourinho's men are unbeaten in 23 Premier
League matches – a tally that combines 13 wins
and 10 draws – and the former Chelsea boss does
not feel under pressure as he reflects with
assurance upon the foundations he has laid for the
coming seasons.
"It doesn't matter what happens in terms of titles
we win or don't win," he said. "I always feel that
this season is very important for me, the players
and the club.
"I would say this can be the first season of the next
five or six or seven. It can be the first season of
better years.
"And the reality is even in the first season of better
years we won already and we have already the
chance to do good things until the end of the
season.
"If we manage to win the Europa League and in
August to play the European Super Cup against the
Champions League winner, it will be magnificent."