Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola hit back at Real Madrid counterpart Jose Mourinho as a stunning war of words erupted between the rival coaches ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League semi-final first leg.

Speaking earlier today, Mourinho launched a stinging attack on Guardiola regarding comments the Barca coach was supposed to have made about certain refereeing decisions.

Mourinho, referring to an example following last week’s Copa del Rey final between Madrid and Barca regarding a disallowed Pedro Rodriguez goal for offside, said Guardiola had created a new group of coaches one that criticises officials when they make correct decisions.

“Up until now we’ve had two groups of coaches,” said the Portuguese. “(There’s) a very small group who didn’t talk about referees. Then there’s a larger group, of which I’m included, of coaches that criticises referees when they make big mistakes.

“And with Pep’s statements we’ve come to a third group, which is a one person group, who criticises good decisions made by the referee. I’ve never seen this before.”

Guardiola refused to take the comments lying down, though, and launched an angry response during his press conference this evening.

The Barca coach said: “Tomorrow at 8.45 we will meet each other on the pitch. Off the pitch he has already won.

“In this room (press room), he’s the f*****g chief, the f*****g man, the person who knows everything about the world and I don’t want to compete with him at all.

“It’s a type of game I’m not going to play because I don’t know how. I won’t justify my words. I congratulated Madrid for the cup that they won deservedly on the pitch and against a team that I represent and of which I feel very proud.”

He added: “Off the pitch, he has already won, as he has done all year. On the pitch, we’ll see what happens.”