'It got too much' - Toxic Jose Mourinho relationship played part in Pep Guardiola's Barcelona exit, says Gerard Pique

Pep Guardiola’s toxic relationship with Jose Mourinho played a part in his exit from Barcelona, according to Gerard Pique. During a golden spell at Barcelona, Guardiola fashioned a team that played some of the greatest football ever seen. Ad/> The likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Pique swept all before them, dominating domestically and in Europe.

Premier League'If I had to put money on it' — Neville backs Spurs to beat Arsenal to fourth2 HOURS AGO Mourinho moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2010 and set about creating a rivalry with Guardiola and his Barcelona team. As the rivalry between the two clubs intensified, Pique felt it began to detract from what was happening on the field and had a detrimental impact on Guardiola to the extent that he left the club in 2012 and took a sabbatical. Speaking to Gary Neville’s Overlap podcast, Pique offered up his thoughts on the rivalry between Mourinho and Guardiola.

“We were winning everything at the time and I remember that the first time Mourinho came to Camp Nou he lost 5-0 against us,” Pique said. “It was a shock of reality that these guys are going hard, but in the press conferences every time he was, you know his style, and I think that for Guardiola at some point it was too much. «It was more important sometimes what happened off the pitch than on the pitch.

“Guardiola left. Madrid won the league that year and all of a sudden he decided to leave for so many reasons, but I am sure part of it was because with Mourinho it got too much.” United chase Barca's De Jong — Paper Round Vinicius treble sees Real to win over Levante Asked by Neville if Guardiola did not like how toxic things had gotten between the two clubs, Pique said: “I don’t think so. “I remember