Jose holds Chelsea boss in ‘contempt’

JOSE Mourinho admits he has ‘contempt’ for Chelsea coach Antonio Conte after he hurled a string of insults at the United manager.

Conte suggested Mourinho had ‘senile dementia’ before the Portuguese brought up Conte’s 2012 charge for match-fixing, of which he was cleared in 2016.

The Italian responded by suggesting Mourinho was a ‘little man’ and a ‘fake’ before vowing in midweek he would ‘not forget’ Mourinho’s jibes.

Mourinho believes Conte has insulted him twice and refused to prolong the verbal jousting.

“I think when a person insults another, you can expect a response,” Mourinho said. “Or you can expect contempt, silence. The first time he insulted me I had a response, a response that I know touched the point where he really feels hurt. Then he insulted me for a second time, but now I change, and now contempt. And for me, contempt means end of the story.”

United returned from their warm weather stint in Dubai on Friday and a suntanned Mourinho spoke effusively about their working week abroad.

“Very good,” Mourinho said. “Facilities unbelievable, the facilities are better than any football club in the world, unbelievable conditions to work, nice weather, three days of training – really, really good.

“Hopefully we can improve our level because I really think it was good, so we are all happy and were lucky to play Monday, which give us this extra day.”