The Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester United managers studied for one of their coaching badges together.
Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal has revealed how often he speaks to Manchester United counterpart Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese pair studied for one of their coaching badges together.
But despite Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager, being based on the other side of the Pennines now, Carvalhal admitted they do not have regular contact.
When asked if he still speaks to his compatriot, whose United side are level with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, he said via Wednesday’s official Facebook page: “Not too much (lately), but one or another times, yes.
“Last time that I talk[ed to him] was when his father died [in June of this year], even [though] we don’t have regular contact we are friends and we respect each other. But he’s not a person that I talk with often. I talk with him in special occasions.
“I talk more often with Rui Faria, the [Manchester United] assistant coach that was my colleague in university.”
Commenting on Mourinho’s progress with United this season, Carvalhal added: “He is doing very well. He is doing the normal for Jose.”
After back-to-back defeats in the Championship play-offs, Carvalhal will be hoping he can face his friends in next season’s top flight, where Wednesday haven’t appeared in going on 18 years.
The Owls face Sheffield United on Sunday, in the first Steel City derby since February 2012.
A win for Carvalhal’s side could see them climb to fourth in the standings, depending on other teams’ results.
Who will win the Steel City derby at Hillsborough?
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