Conte not amused by Italian comedian’s Mourinho stunt

Chelsea’s press conference to preview tonight’s FA

Cup fixture with Hull was gatecrashed by an Italian comedian attempting to give Antonio Conte a Manchester United shirt signed by Jose Mourinho.

Conte had already spoken of plans to rotate his team ahead of a demanding schedule in which they next play Barcelona, Manchester United and Manchester City when the comedian from Italia 1 satire Le Iene rose from his seat.

He spoke to Conte in Italian, showed him a video on a tablet – his bitter rival Mourinho’s name could be heard via the video – and then presented the shirt to him before it was refused and he was asked to leave.

It was when Conte saw the shirt that he stopped smiling; the Manchester United manager had last month signed it, unaware it featured Conte’s name, when approached by comedians from the same programme in Manchester.

Conte remains without the injured Tiemoue Bakayoko, David Luiz and Ross Barkley for tonight’s visit of Hull, and asked if he was preparing to change his team, he responded: “For sure, we have in front of us two weeks that are very tough.”

In response to Roy Keane, a one-time opponent with United while Conte played for Juventus, labelling his players “unprofessional”, Conte said: “In every moment I have underlined the commitment of the players. Under this aspect, I’m very happy.”

Tonight’s fixture is Hull’s first since their midfielder Ryan Mason, 26, announced his retirement because of the fractured skull suffered in a challenge with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill last year.

Picture: Getty. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte.