Mourinho and Guardiola to battle over season's first trophy

José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola are set to contest their first trophy of the season: the Premier League Manager of the Month award for August.

Mourinho and Guardiola have a long standing rivalry dating back to their times in charge or Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, and they will now do battle over the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award, with Chelsea’s Antonio Conte and Hull City’s caretaker manager Mike Phelan also nominated.

Both Mourinho and Guardiola have made a 100 per cent start to the new season with their clubs, winning all three of their Premier League games in August, as has Conte at Chelsea.

Mourinho has seemingly restored Manchester United’s winning mentality since being named successor to Louis van Gaal in June. United have endured a difficult three years since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Both David Moyes and van Gaal were unable to get the Red Devils anywhere near the Premier League title race, while twice missing out on Champions League qualification in the last three years.

But Mourinho has got United back to winning ways and they are now among the favourites to lift the Premier League trophy in May.

Guardiola has already transformed Manchester City’s playing style, despite only having a few months to implement his complex tactical instructions.

Under the tutelage of the former FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach, City look ready to contest the title with United.