I’ll never hate Chelsea fans, says Mourinho
WATFORD, United Kingdom: Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has told Chelsea fans he will never hate them no matter how much abuse he receives during Saturday’s FA Cup final.
Mourinho remains the most successful boss in Chelsea’s history after winning three Premier League titles, as well as the three League Cups and one FA Cup, during his two spells with the west London club.
But some Chelsea supporters no longer show the same gratitude and adulation to Mourinho as they did when he won the team’s first English title for 50 years in 2005.
Mourinho angered Blues fans by joining their rivals United and the tension boiled over when Chelsea won a fiery FA Cup quarter-final between the sides at Stamford Bridge last season.
Mourinho, twice sacked by Chelsea, was branded a “Judas” by supporters who sang “you’re not special any more”, to which the Portuguese coach responded by saying “Judas is still number one” in a reminder to his tormentors of how successful he had been with their club.
Ahead of this weekend’s clash between his current and former teams at Wembley, Mourinho made it clear he wouldn’t be drawn into more verbal sparring because he still respects the fans who stuck by him when he was on the verge of being axed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
“The only thing I say in relation to Chelsea supporters is since my first day in 2004 until my last day when I was sacked a couple of years ago they were with me unconditionally,” Mourinho said.
“They were with me every day, even on the two days I was sacked. That I will never forget.
“They did what I think great supporters do, they support their manager unconditionally until the last day. I remember when we played Dynamo Kiev, a Champions League match when people were already talking about me being sacked. I remember the whole stadium standing and singing for me. That was in a difficult moment when the results were not good. If they hate me, if they dislike me, if they don’t respect me, that is something I can’t control. But you dont have any (negative) quotes from me about Chelsea supporters, not one word.”
After feuding with Chelsea boss Antonio Conte for much of this season, Mourinho also revealed this week that he has buried the hatchet with the Italian.
But, with Conte reportedly set to leave Chelsea at the end of the season after falling out with the club’s hierarchy, Mourinho is intent of giving his successor a painful end to the season by leading United to a record-equalling 13th FA Cup.