A new documentary on José Mourinho has once again brought out the Portuguese manager’s trademark bluntness, with the “Special One” appearing to take a dig at long-time rival Pep Guardiola.

In the three-part MOURINHO documentary, which premieres globally on Netflix on August 11, 2026, Mourinho discusses his relentless approach to management and makes his feelings about taking breaks from football clear.

Mourinho said he has never understood the idea of taking a sabbatical, describing it as a sign of weakness and insisting that he would rather remain active in football.

“Some guys need a sabbatical, something I hate. I hate that word. For me, sabbatical means weakness. Don’t speak with me about sabbaticals. I never need a rest. I will rest when I die,” he said.

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The comments are widely viewed as a reference to Guardiola, who took a year-long break from management after leaving Barcelona in 2012 before returning to the dugout with Bayern Munich in 2013.

The Mourinho-Guardiola rivalry dates back to their battles in Spain, when Mourinho managed Real Madrid while Guardiola was in charge of Barcelona.

Their contrasting personalities and football philosophies made their encounters among the most closely watched managerial duels of the era.

Mourinho’s documentary, filmed over two years, explores his career at clubs including Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma and Fenerbahçe.

It also features interviews with football figures, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Didier Drogba, John Terry, Iker Casillas and Zlatan Ibrahimović.

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