JOSE v CONTE, ROUND TWO!
Mourinho rages over Inter’s Eriksen move
Jose Mourinho has lashed out at Antonio Conte and inter Milan over their pursuit of Christian eriksen. eriksen will be involved for Tottenham at Watford today, with Mourinho claiming there is still no offer on the table from the italians for the 27-year-old Dane who is out of contract in six months.
inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio has been in London this week to complete a deal for Ashley Young and close in on Chelsea’s olivier Giroud and eriksen.
They have agreed terms with the midfielder on a four-and-a-halfyear deal worth up to £15million a season, and are reported to be confident a transfer can be completed this month for a £12m fee.
‘if they are confident it’s because they are ready to make an offer which didn’t happen yet,’ said Mourinho. ‘if we don’t have an offer how can we sell him?
‘i think we coaches should all behave in the same way in relation to transfers. We should always be closed, until something really happens. We shouldn’t speak about players from other clubs until they become our players. We should always be protective.
‘i am surprised when i see people with responsibilities speaking about eriksen.’ Asked who, he replied: ‘i think Antonio. i think it was publicly. he is very positive that eriksen is coming to inter.’
Moreover, he is unhappy with an aggressive drive to unsettle eriksen by dripping information into the public arena. ‘This is not my inter,’ said Mourinho who led inter to the Champions League in 2010 before Massimo Moratti sold the club.
‘My inter was Moratti’s inter. i have no connections with the people so it’s nothing to do with that. nothing can change my feeling with inter, it’s not a situation with a player that is going to change my feeling with the club and the fans. no chance.’
Mourinho and Conte feuded when Premier League rivals. Mourinho reacted angrily when he felt ‘humiliated’ by Conte’s excessive celebrations during a 4-0 win for Chelsea against Manchester united. There were sly digs from Conte about united’s spending and from Mourinho about Conte’s hair transplant and touchline behaviour. Conte accused Mourinho of suffering from ‘senile dementia’.
As for eriksen, booed by some spurs fans against Middlesbrough on Tuesday, Mourinho claimed he had been unsettled by inter.
‘Christian is trying his best,’ he said. ‘it is normal that until January 31 his brain is not focused. if i am a player reading every day, with information about the optimism, it is normal that the player doesn’t know very well what’s going on.
‘i still don’t understand the optimism. For a few months people are speaking about how he’s playing his last match for the club and the situation doesn’t change. eriksen plays. he is selected.’
Gedson Fernandes will also be involved after joining from Benfica.