ANKARA

Turkish team Fenerbahce’s boss Jose Mourinho praised Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola and Claudio Ranieri, his rivals during his time in the English Premier League.

During a podcast Wednesday on the YouTube channel of former Chelsea footballer John Obi Mikel, the Portuguese coach evaluated the coaches.

Asked whether Ferguson or Guardiola is better, Mourinho said it is “impossible to compare. It’s really impossible to compare two different generations, or the potential to do certain things. Both are historic coaches in the Premier League, but the most historic one for the Premier League title is Ranieri.

"The championship he won with Leicester City was unique. Winning 5 or 6 trophies with United or City is a great thing, but…when you win with Leicester City, there are no 'buts,'" he added.

Asked to choose between the Premier League title and the Champions League title, Mourinho said: "The league championship. Because in the league championship, not everything depends on a single moment or a critical thing. Normally the best team wins the league. Maybe not in Türkiye. But the Champions League is the Champions League. I have tattoos showing my wins, but not for the Premier League.”

Asked who was better, John Obi Mikel or his Chelsea counterpart Claude Makelele, Mourinho said: "They were both a pain in my a** for different reasons. The young one (Mikel) thought he was the best in the world at a young age, but he was not. I had to help him to become a top player. The old one (Makelele) knew even better than me how a number six should play. But at that stage of his career, he would ask me for a weekend off, even in the weeks when there were Champions League games," he said.

The 62-year-old also emphasized that midfielders are valued more in today's football.

"You were both great, but from today's point of view, things like Rodri and his Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or) you see. Back then, you had to score 50 goals or something to win anything. Now people value tactical players who make the team better -- even if they are not the best player in the team -- more."