Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has delivered a dig to his old adversary Arsene Wenger, whom he faces in the Premier League this weekend, declaring that he is not afforded the same respect as the Frenchman, even though his own last title was won “18 months ago… not 18 years ago.”

Mourinho, who said that Wayne Rooney was “ready” for this weekend despite the controversy surrounding his drinking while away on England duty, told journalists that “Mr Wenger has respect, I don’t think I get respect.”

The manager, who suggested that both of them deserved respect for the titles they had won, said he was indifferent to the fact he felt he was overlooked, despite the fact that the Arsenal manager’s sides have beaten Mourinho only once in 15 games. That victory was last season’s Community Shield.

Mourinho said: “Tomorrow is the match between the two managers with the best records in the Premier League. Sir Alex Ferguson isn’t there any more and tomorrow I think we are speaking about six or seven Premier League titles [between us.]

“I have three, I think. Mr Wenger has three or four - I don’t know. Does that mean we should be respected even in periods where our results are not the best? I think Mr Wenger has that respect from all of you. I don’t think I have especially because my last Premier League title was 18 months ago. It was not 18 years ago.

“So I don’t think I get respect but it’s not because of that that is peak better or not so good. I just follow my way because I want to win my ninth championship and my fourth Premier league.”

Mourinho refused to discuss the Rooney controversy. He said: “Over the last two or three days nothing happened. He trained like everybody else, he wants to play like everybody else. He is ready. What happened in the national team happened in the national team. I don’t comment. My players - when they go there they go to the national team, I don’t like to interfere.”

Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Show all 11 1 /11 Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Arsène Wenger, February 2005 After being probed about the number of foreign players in his Arsenal side, Wenger flipped the question onto Chelsea's lack of homegrown talent. Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Jose Mourinho, October 2005 Mourinho did not initially bite back, but after Wenger criticised his team further, he infamously labelled the Frenchman a 'voyeur'. Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Arsène Wenger, November 2005 Wenger did not react well and accused Mourinho of being "disconnected with reality and disrespectful". Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Jose Mourinho, April 2008 Their rivalry calmed after Mourinho's exit from Chelsea in 2007, but the Portuguese could not help but prod Wenger again during his time at Internazionale. Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Arsène Wenger, April 2013 After Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso appeared to purposely earn yellow cards in a Champions League tie for Mourinho's Real Madrid side, Wenger admonised their actions in the press. Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Jose Mourinho, April 2013 Wenger's comments provoked a spiky reaction from Mourinho, who attacked his rival's reputation as a manager who develops young talent. Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Arsène Wenger, January 2014 Mourinho, back at Chelsea, sold Juan Mata to Manchester United shortly after the two sides had played their final league fixture against each other for the season. Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Jose Mourinho, January 2014 Wenger's reaction did not surprise Mourinho, who cried foul himself with a complaint about Arsenal's fixture list. Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Jose Mourinho, February 2014 After Wenger suggested his rival may suffer from a 'fear of failure', Mourinho infamously retorted by calling Wenger a 'specialist in failure'. Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Arsène Wenger, October 2014 The pair finally came to physical blows on the touchline during Chelsea's 2-0 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in October 2014. Mourinho and Wenger's rivalry: in quotes Jose Mourinho, October 2015 A year later, with his title-winning side falling apart at the seams, Mourinho claimed that Wenger was the only manager in the league who could criticise referees and get away with it.