Jose Mourinho v Pep Guardiola: The rivalry the Premier League needs... they're battling at the top with snarkiness and mind games

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A stone's throw, or at least one hurled by Rory Delap, is probably the best way to chart how close Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola live to each other.

They are less than a five-minute walk apart in Manchester's hub, a short stroll into town, and from there are planning how best to create dynasties at both the city's monstrous clubs.

Guardiola and Mourinho are doing it their different ways at Manchester City and Manchester United. One is a proactive coach, the other largely reactive. Either way, they are the world's finest and reside almost side-by-side.

Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will renew their rivalry when United host City on Sunday 

The two managers are doing it their different ways at Manchester City and Manchester United

The fireworks seen while foes at Real Madrid and Barcelona have not been witnessed and are unlikely to ever reappear but there was a little splash in the temperate waters this week.

David Silva was the topic. Guardiola suggested the Spaniard did not travel to face Shakhtar Donetsk because he was carrying an unspecified knock and may miss Sunday's derby. Mourinho plainly did not believe him and said so.

It was the first time we have seen the two come anywhere near to butting heads and that is unlikely to continue. There has not been any formal pact between the two to deflect attention away from their rivalry but an understanding that it could well act as a distraction.

They should be commended for effectively burying the hatchet in Manchester — or at least not acting upon it. There was a recognition that a repeat of those scenes in Spain, the calling out and the touchline bust-ups, would overshadow what remains such a coup for this city.

The fireworks while foes at Real Madrid and Barcelona have not been seen in Manchester

Mourinho has, however, accused Guardiola of telling white lies about David Silva's injury

Guardiola and Mourinho are said to have shaken hands at a Premier League meeting last season, cracking a joke and smile. It was not as definitive as a bid to draw a line under their previous antics but the embrace helped paper over any possible cracks.

That was easy to follow through with given the different aims of City and United in the first season but will possibly be harder to keep a lid on now given they are irrefutably the country's two outstanding teams.

It will be intriguing to see, for example, how Silva's knock plays out. Guardiola revealed pre-match at Shakhtar Donetsk that he is looking good for the weekend after previously suggesting the Spaniard was struggling.

That has undoubtedly irked Mourinho, who called out Guardiola earlier in the week for playing mind games, just days after he claimed Arsene Wenger tried a similar trick with Alexandre Lacazette.

Guardiola claimed on Tuesday that Silva is a doubt for Sunday's derby at Old Trafford

It will be intriguing to see how Silva's knock plays out - the Spaniard didn't travel to Ukraine 

Then there is United's refusal to allow City's documentary crew to film inside the Old Trafford tunnel or dressing room. It is unlikely a decision on that got anywhere near Mourinho but you can imagine the response if it did.

Saying the world's two true blockbuster bosses have stayed out of each other's way would be over-egging the point.

Mourinho, though, is known to prefer his secluded getaway suite at the Lowry Hotel, ordering Deliveroo, rather than venturing out. Guardiola, on the other hand, is often seen in the Deansgate restaurants when he's not with his family in City Suites.

They are even contrasting styles away from the pitch and this year we should have a fairer idea of how both projects are going.

Guardiola's men are the subject of an Amazon Prime documentary charting their season

City are four months into a £10million documentary and have been thwarted by their rivals

There was barely time for either to take stock before they were thrust into the ring last season. Both had won their opening three Premier League games by September 10 but, in truth, City's result there was of little genuine consequence.

It laid down a marker however, the first-half display a severe shock to Mourinho's system as United were pulled this way and that. A sign of things to come under Guardiola, perhaps, but certainly not a determining factor in United failing to reach the top four.

Nevertheless, that afternoon scarred Mourinho. He was known to have been brooding in the days after, worried that his side had been picked apart at Old Trafford with such ease.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard, hauled off at half-time, started from scratch with their manager and were not forgiven for those performance for some time. It may not have had any bearing on the campaign but helped shape Mourinho's thinking going forward.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan was hauled off at half-time by Mourinho in a game City went on to win 2-1

Jesse Lingard also struggled in that City match last year but has impressed this season 

City attacked as if engaged in a game of drafts — something we have seen more and more of — and manoeuvred defensive obstacles effortlessly that day.

That is why United's boss fielded a stronger team in the EFL Cup and why, to a certain degree at least, he shut up shop at the Etihad seven months later. City found themselves nullified in April, a definite case of job done for Mourinho with his club's gaze fixed on other targets by then.

He will expect a little more this time. An eight-point lead needs surmounting and Sunday afternoon will be of very real consequence either way. 

The pair hate losing to each other — Guardiola has eight victories from their 19 encounters; Mourinho four — and this will have a huge bearing on the title race.

Guardiola and Mourinho are said to have shaken hands at Premier League meeting last season