Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United "big boss" Alex Ferguson would dismiss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's theory that cup trophies can be "an ego thing" for managers.
In almost two and a half years at the Old Trafford helm, Solskjaer has yet to deliver silverware for the club, and he says the team should be judged by their league progress.
United sit second in the Premier League table, which suggests there has been achievement on that front, and they remain in the hunt in the Europa League.
The latter is a tournament that Mourinho won with United, and he also landed an EFL Cup triumph to make it a double in the 2016-17 season.
United lost only five times in the Premier League in that campaign but a league-high 15 draws meant they could only finish sixth, yet in the following campaign they were runners-up to Manchester City.
Mourinho's United career began to unravel, but he left knowing he had helped to replenish the trophy cabinet, and he disagrees with Solskjaer that such moments can be ego-stroking moments for managers and clubs.
"It's his opinion. I'm pretty sure that his big boss Sir Alex has a different opinion about it," Mourinho said, speaking ahead of his Tottenham side's clash with United on Sunday.
"But I respect what Solskjaer thinks. I think different. Freedom of thinking, freedom of ideas, and if that's the way he thinks that's fine for me.
"It's not being disrespectful for anyone. But I believe his big boss and the biggest of Premier League history has a different view in relation to that."
Ferguson's first United trophy was the FA Cup in 1990, which led to a European Cup Winners' Cup the following year, and in 1991-92 his team added a League Cup success.
It was the beginning of an era where United harvested trophies season by season, moving on to the Premier League and peaking at the end of the decade with their most famous Champions League triumph, Solskjaer famously scoring a stoppage-time winner against Bayern Munich.
It was an empire that was built on a foundation of cup success, with that essentially being United's entry level to the most dominant period in their history.
Mourinho and Tottenham had their tails up in October as the visitors rampaged to a 6-1 win at Old Trafford, but they have since slid from title contention to their current sixth place.
They have an EFL Cup final against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City coming up on April 25, however, which could see Spurs secure their first major trophy since 2008, when they won the same competition.
Needing a strong run-in to barge into the top four, it would be hugely helpful to Spurs this weekend if they could end United's 22-match unbeaten away record (W14 D8) in the Premier League and complete a first league double over the Red Devils since the 1989-90 season.
Should they achieve that feat, Mourinho would be the first former United manager since Dave Sexton in 1981-82 with Coventry City to manage such a double.
United will inevitably be wary of the threat posed by Tottenham's Harry Kane, who scored a double in the Old Trafford game and is one goal short of hitting 20 in a Premier League season for the fifth time.
Kane would be just the fourth player in the Premier League era to achieve this feat after Alan Shearer (7 times), Sergio Aguero (6) and Thierry Henry (5).
If anyone gives Tottenham value for money, it must be Kane.
Mourinho spoke about the financial muscle of Manchester City, who rewarded Kevin De Bruyne with a bumper new contract this week, reportedly worth over £16million per season.
The Spurs boss has no problem with De Bruyne doing so well out of his City career, and only wishes he could pay Tottenham's biggest stars such money.
"Good for him. He deserves it, he's a fantastic player," Mourinho said.
"If Pep [Guardiola] or any coach of the top teams has X millions to spend, good for them. No problem. I enjoy to work in my club, I enjoy to do what I'm doing, and I'm not jealous of the ones that can do other things. I would love my players to get the same contract as David de Gea or Kevin De Bruyne."
Pedri committed to Barca but not ruling out Premier League move
Pedri plans to stay at Barcelona for "many years to come" but is not ruling out a move to the Premier League.
The 20-year-old has been a revelation since breaking into Barca's first team, establishing himself as a key player for the LaLiga leaders.
Pedri won FIFA's Golden Boy award for being the best young player in Europe in 2021 and quickly forced his way into the Spain team.
The young maestro is contracted to the Blaugrana until 2026 and has no intention of moving on for now, but suggested he may ply his trade overseas further down the line.
When asked about the possibility of a switch to England, he is quoted as saying by Marca: "At the moment, no. I'm at Barca and hopefully I'll stay here for many more years.
"I love LaLiga, but nothing should ever be ruled out."
Pedri will miss Spain's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Norway and Scotland due to a hamstring injury, but is relishing a new era for the national team under Luis de la Fuente.
Having played under De la Fuente at Under-21 level and in the Tokyo Olympics, Pedri believes the new Spain head coach will be a success.
Pedri said: "He is a person who goes straight ahead, he likes to work on the things he believes in and I think we will do well.
"All the coaches who come try to have the ball and play, especially because of the style of footballers we have, and I think not It will change a lot."
Man City striker compared to Haaland 'can be best in the world', says team-mate
Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw has already prompted comparisons to Erling Haaland for her goalscoring exploits, and a Manchester City team-mate believes she can be the world's best player.
Jamaica striker Shaw has scored 26 goals in 23 games in all competitions for City this season, including 15 in 15 in the Women's Super League.
The 26-year-old has averaged a goal every 86 minutes in the league – not quite on par with men's star Haaland, who has scored every 76 minutes in the Premier League, but close enough for onlookers to note the similarities.
City manager Gareth Taylor did not shy away from comparisons between the "pretty remarkable" pair last week, explaining how both are "so mentally strong".
It is that quality that might yet make Shaw the world's best, with England defender Alex Greenwood backing her City colleague.
"I'm not surprised she's doing what she is doing, and she still has so many levels to go to, which is quite frightening to be honest," Greenwood told BBC Sport.
"I think she can be the best in the world if she wants to be. She has all the attributes to be the best in the world.
"I know how hard she works in training. It's the reason she's flourishing right now.
"She's been really strong for us, so we just need to keep feeding her, keep giving her the ball, and the rest she'll take care of."
Pulisic taking confidence from record USA away display
Christian Pulisic believes the United States can take confidence from setting a record for away goals as they thumped Grenada.
In winning 7-1 on Friday in the CONCACAF Nations League, it was the first time they had scored seven goals in a match taking place outside the US.
It was USA's first competitive match since the World Cup, with Ricardo Pepi and Weston McKennie each scoring twice.
Chelsea star Pulisic also got on the scoresheet, and had a hand in four other goals too.
"We came out really strong with a lot of energy and just kind of put with them right away," Pulisic said.
"So I think they were kind of surprised by that. Took our goals well and just a great all-around performance. Definitely gives us confidence."
The game was also the first time USA played a competitive match without using a single MLS player since the league began in 1996.
Interim coach Anthony Hudson was impressed by what he saw from his team, but urged them to finish the job as they bid to reach the Nations League final four.
USA are top of their group ahead of hosting El Salvador on Monday at Exploria Stadium in Florida.
Hudson said: "With a [good] performance and a result like this, you don't want to get carried away.
"The importance for us is just to make sure that we do all the right things between now and the next game and we finish the job off.
"But the actual performance, I thought it was the result of just a really, really good week."
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