HomeFeatured Articles5 unwanted reunions in the 2016-17 Premier League season

5 unwanted reunions in the 2016-17 Premier League season

This season sees the return of Jose Mourinho as he join Manchester United for the 2016-17 season. Pep Guardiola is introduced to the Premier League and some big European stars are following him including Ibrahimovic so their could be some reunions with players and their former bosses. Steve Bruce is making a return to the top flight with promoted side, Hull City and there’s a return for former England international David Nugent as part of the Championship winning side, Burnley. Liverpool and Manchester United won’t look forward to facing new boys, Middlesborough either after Boro took the sides to a penalty shoot-out in recent cup competitions.

reunions

Here’s just a few unwanted reunions we could see in the Premier League this season…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Manchester City

The new Manchester United forward will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing their local rivals in a Premier League bust-up. The former Paris-Saint Germain striker faced City in the quarter-final of last season’s Champions League but was on the losing side for the fourth year in a row at that stage of the competition. Pre-match talk surrounded the battle of the strikers; Aguero vs Ibrahimovic – but neither impressive too much over the two legs. Both strikers missed penalties in normal time but it was Zlatan Ibrahimovic who saw his team crash out of the competition. He’ll be hoping to make up for that defeat by showing City what he’s really capable of and crushing Blue hearts in the local Manchester derby.

Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho

The two big managers could provide the biggest entertainment off the pitch this season – and perhaps on it. Both managers have had their fair share of history with each other and they’ve already got to work, signing some big players and attempting to put their mark on the league. Mourinho and Guardiola’s rivalry really started in La Liga when the former Chelsea boss was at the helm at Real Madrid and Guardiola was in charge of one of the most successful Barcelona sides. The two went head-to-head in countless El Classico matches for the league title and also faced off in the Champions League. Guardiola probably had the more successful spell but he’ll have his hands full with Manchester City this season and has lots of pressure to deliver. Mourinho will do his best to stand in his way once more, by putting together a deadly Manchester United squad.

Juan Mata and Jose Mourinho

The two were at Chelsea together before Mourinho shifted the former two-time Chelsea Player of the Year to rivals, Manchester United. Mata was often out-of-favour under the Portuguese boss as Mourinho opted to use Oscar in the wide forward role ahead of the gifted Spaniard. There was no blood loss either when the manager decided to get rid of him but now the two will be reunited in Manchester and Mata can’t be looking forward to it much. He’ll have to do all he can to win Mourinho over but with competition from plenty of other top stars, he could face another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Adnan Januzaj

Manchester United welcome the return of Adnan Januzaj after a less than exhilarating loan spell with Borussia Dortmund last season. The youngster was shipped off by Louis Van Gaal and hoped to make an impression on the Bundesliga but wasnt unsuccessful. With Mourinho at the helm, he’ll have to come back and impress but with his former Dortmund team-mate joining the Manchester frame, Januzaj will feel like he’s in a de-ja-vu. In Germany, Mkhitaryan came out on top and was chosen ahead of Januzaj and it’s likely the two will be in competition again this season. The Belgian will be up against it with his Dortmund team-mate arriving, alongside Ibrahimovic. He’ll also have to battle it out against Rashford, Martial and possibly Mata for a place in the front line…

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola

The two managers are regarded as two of the best in the world, alongside Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho. And like the two Manchester managers, Klopp will have his own rivalry with Guardiola, who managed Bayern Munich whilst Klopp was in charge of Borussia Dortmund. Guardiola’s success whilst with Munich was some cause to Dortmund’s lack of success in Klopp’s final season and the Liverpool boss will be hoping to ruin Guardiola’s parade this time around.

Emma Sanders
Emma Sandershttp://Emma-sanders.blogspot.com
Currently studying Journalism at Media City UK, I specialise in Sports Journalism and news writing. My favourite sports include football, tennis, hockey and cricket. This is reflected in my writing.
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