Jose Mourinho's Manchester United may never win the Premier League while Pep Guardiola is managing City: The bitter rivalry 20 years on from bagging trophies at Barcelona

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Firstly, let's jump back to 1996. A 33-year-old Jose Mourinho is just two years into a fledgling coaching career, learning his craft at one of the biggest clubs in world football:Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola, then 25, is a Spanish international and a vital cog in the Barca wheel which romped to thee trophies that season: the Copa del Rey, Supercopa de Espana and European Cup Winners' Cup.

Both men played their part in a hugely successful season for the Catalans. Skip forward over 20 years, however, and there appears to be only one coach steaming towards the Premier League title.

Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola's rivalry was subject of debate ahead of Manchester derby

Over 20 years ago, 33-year-old Mourinho was just four years into a fledgling coaching career

Guardiola was a key player in the heart of Barcelona's midfield, driving them to three trophies 

Manchester City's convincing 2-1 defeat of Manchester United last Sunday put Guardiola's side 11 points ahead of their bitter rivals and, to all intents and purposes, one hand on the trophy.

Mourinho ran through a checklist of excuses following the derby: diving, penalty decisions and even Guardiola receiving preferential treatment from referees.

But, could it be that United were just thoroughly outplayed by a far quicker, more creative and quality-laden outift?

United's formidable record of 40 home matches without defeat came crashing to an end — but it felt as though they had lost a little more than that. 

But Guardiola's City delivered a hammer blow to United on Sunday, winning 2-1 at Old Trafford

The win puts Mourinho's men 11 points behind City and gives Guardiola one hand on the trophy

Of course, there is still a long way to go — 22 games in fact — but scintillating City are seemingly peerless on the field this term.

United fans will have come into the season buoyed by Mourinho's impeccable record of winning titles in his second season in charge.

The Portuguese won the league title in his second full season in charge of Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea again, and was confident the trend could continue before the season.

It will sting the United manager should he fail to triumph over his old foe. The managerial duo have come a long way since their days rubbing shoulders at the Nou Camp.

Mourinho is known for winning league titles during his second year in charge of a club

The pair first met as managers in 2009 when Mourinho managed Inter and Guardiola, Barca

The first time they faced off on the touchlines was in 2009 when Mourinho's Inter Milan drew 0-0 with Guardiola's Barcelona in the Champions League.

Later that campaign, the two side's met in the semi-final and after a 3-1 first-leg win for Inter, Mourinho stoked the fire.

'A year ago Chelsea were crying and Barca were laughing with the referee,' Mourinho said of the controversial clash at Stamford Bridge, which saw Didier Drogba fume at referee Tom Henning Ovrebo after he rejected a number of penalty claims. 'They laughed because he denied my Chelsea boys their rightful place.'

Inter booked their spot in the final that year and Mourinho's side claimed a historic treble.

But the best, or worst, was to come between the two. The Portuguese was appointed Real Madrid boss in 2010 and with Guardiola still at the helm at the Nou Camp, things escalated quickly.

After beating Barca, Mourinho stoked the fire by referring to an incident the previous year

'A year ago Chelsea were crying and Barca were laughing with the referee,' Mourinho said of the controversial clash at Stamford Bridge which saw Didier Drogba fume at the referee

A humiliating 5-0 defeat for Los Blancos in Mourinho's first El Clasico preceded a two-week period whereby the two teams met on four occasions.

Barca secured the title that 2010-11 season, but Cristiano Ronaldo's stunning display in the Copa del Rey final helped Real lift the trophy for the first time in 18 years.

Following the final, Guardiola applauded, somewhat sarcastically, the official's decision to flag Pedro for offside. What followed only served to ramp up the conflict. 

'Up until now there was a very small group of coaches who didn't talk about referees and a larger group who did,' said Mourinho. 'Now, with Pep's comments, we have started a new era with a third group, featuring only one person, a man who criticises [the referee] when he makes good decisions. This is completely new to me.'

A furious Guardiola hit back. 'As senor Mourinho has called me Pep, I'm going to call him Jose,' he said ahead of yet another El Clasico. 'Tomorrow at 8.45pm we will face each other on the pitch. Off the pitch he's won. He's been winning off the pitch all season. 

'Let them give him a Champions League for it so he can enjoy it and take it home. In the press room he is 'el p*** jefe' (the f****** boss) and the one who knows more than everyone else.'

Guardiola returned to the team hotel that night to a standing ovation from his players following his verbal assault on Mourinho. 

In Mourinho's first season at Real Madrid, he suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat in El Clasico

The war of words then ramped up and Guardiola called Mourinho 'el p*** jefe' (the f****** boss)

Barca ran out 2-0 winners in the first leg, in which Madrid centre back Pepe was sent off. Mourinho was also banished from the touchline for protesting, which prompted another assault on his opposite number.

'One day, I would like Josep Guardiola to win this competition properly,' he said. 

'Josep Guardiola is a fantastic coach,' he added. 'But I have won two Champions Leagues and he has won [only] one Champions League - and that is one that would embarrass me. I would be ashamed to have won it with the scandal of Stamford Bridge. 

'If he wins it this year, it will be with the scandal of the Bernabeu. Deep down, if they are good people, it cannot taste right for them. I hope one day Guardiola has the chance of winning a brilliant, clean championship with no scandal.' 

The two teams drew 1-1 in the second leg, sealing Barca's route to the final. 'This has been one of the most beautiful nights I have ever lived,' said Guardiola after the tie.

Guardiola went on to win his second Champions League, beating United in the 2011 final at Wembley.

The rivalry rumbled on to their next clubs, Mourinho back at Chelsea and Guardiola at Bayern following a year-long sabbatical.

Guardiola's Bayern beat Chelsea on penalties in 2013 UEFA Super Cup, which irked Mourinho

The Germans won the 2013 UEFA Super Cup, beating the Blues on penalties following a rousing speech from the Spaniard.

'The best team clearly lost,' grumbled Mourinho. 'They just scored one more penalty.'

It is this long-running war of words which makes this one of the biggest managerial spats in the modern era.

Sunday's extraordinary 30-man brawl inside the Old Trafford tunnel following City's win serves to highlight the animosity it has bred between both sets of players and staff.

The United boss averages just over two seasons in charge of his clubs — but has stayed for three at each of his last five.

He has already waxed lyrical about Paris Saint-Germain and point-blank refused to embrace the idea of ending his managerial career at Old Trafford.

Should this three-season trend continue, the sand in the hourglass is quickly running low in terms of claiming that coveted Premier League trophy with the Red Devils.

And, for now at least, it appears there's no stopping this current crop of City superstars or, frustratingly for Mourinho, Guardiola.  

Mourinho has stayed for three seasons at each of his last three clubs and time is running out