Guardiola takes his Premier League leaders across Manchester to Old Trafford on Sunday for a fascinating derby against his old nemesis.

The rival managers sit first and second in the table with Guardiola’s Manchester City enjoying an eight-point lead over Mourinho’s United.

Asked if he wants success every bit as much as Mourinho, Guardiola said: “Definitely. In that, we are twins. They want to win trophies, we want to win trophies.

“Antonio Conte is the same as well, and Jurgen [Klopp] and Mauricio [Pochettino], and in all the leagues around the world, the managers are there.

“I never criticise my colleagues for the way they play. I never did in the past, I will never do it.

“Football is magnificent for that, because every manager plays in the way they play. There are different ways to enjoy football. It’s simple like that.”

David Silva has been cleared to play at Old Trafford on Sunday having been a doubt with a muscle problem.

The midfielder missed Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, having complained of “feeling uncomfortable” after scoring the winner against West Ham last Sunday.

Mourinho claimed the whole episode was a smokescreen, and that Silva was always destined to play at Old Trafford.

But Guardiola said: “At the beginning of the week, after the game against West Ham, there was a big doubt about his playing.

“That’s why I said what I said. But he said he is really good, so he is going to play.”