Saturday's match between Tottenham and Manchester City isn't just between two of the expected challengers for the Premier League title.
When Spurs host the Sky Blues on Matchday 9 (Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET, on DAZN), nearly as much attention will be paid to the sidelines as will be to the action on the field. That's because of the two managers involved — Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola — and their long-standing rivalry.
The two men have each led some of the most successful teams in the history of the sport, but they'll forever be associated with their time spent coaching Spain's two biggest clubs. Mourinho's time as manager of Real Madrid early in the last decade overlaps completely with Guardiola's reign at Barcelona (although Pep's start with the Catalans preceded Jose's move to Madrid by two years), and it was during that time that "El Clasico" was at the height of its powers.
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid was and always will be a massive rivalry, but the 2010-2013 stretch is arguably the finest both teams have been in decades.
Both men have since moved on, but their personal rivalry continues as Mourinho's Tottenham takes on Guardiola's City.
With each coach boasting several championships, the debate on which has had the best career is a natural one. Like the neverending discussion about respective proteges Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Mourinho vs. Guardiola will be a debate until one or both of them decides to step away from the sidelines.
For their part, "Shoot-Out" hosts Steve Bower and Greg Brady have jumped right into the debate ahead of Saturday's clash. As usual, the men have taken opposite sides of the discussion.
"These are two of my favourites," Brady said. "This is like saying 'what do I like better, cake or ice cream?' I mean we're not reinventing the wheel here, but because Mourinho's had a bit of a head start, because Mourinho's done it in a lot of different destinations — remember, [he's] eight years Guardiola's senior — I lean Jose."
While Brady lauded Mourinho's ability to win in several leagues, Bower narrowed his choice down to the man in charge of what he called "arguably the best team to watch" in his lifetime.
"We're very fortunate to have had both of these managers [working in our lifetimes]," Bower said. "[They have] very different styles, very different teams, with very similar records. Champions League winners, treble winners, and of course Premier League winners, as well. So I obviously am going to say Pep — but only just, and he's done it at three huge clubs. And don't come back to me and say, 'oh well Pep had Messi.' It needed more than Messi."
Watch the entire episode of "Shoot-Out," where Bower and Brady also discuss a possible Ronaldo return to the Premier League, above or on DAZN Canada's YouTube page.