The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)

Mourinho misery

Special One appears put out by Conte’s egging on of support

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Antonio Conte was unapologet­ic after Jose Mourinho appeared to take exception to the Chelsea boss asking for more from the Stamford Bridge faithful in the 4-0 win against Manchester United. Mourinho, sacked twice by Chelsea, was embarrasse­d onhis return in opposition asUnited imploded.

Antonio Conte was unapologet­ic after Jose Mourinho appeared to take exception to the Chelsea head coach asking for more from the Stamford Bridge faithful during yesterday’s 4-0 Premier League win against Manchester United.

Mourinho, twice sacked by Chelsea after three times winning the Premier League title, was embarrasse­d on his return in opposition as United imploded.

The United manager spoke at length to Conte at the final whistle, with suggestion­s the Portuguese had been annoyed that the Italian had encouraged the home support to cheer on the Blues when they were already 4-0 up.

Reports said Mourinho told Conte: “You don’t celebrate like that at 4-0, you can do it at 1-0, otherwise it’s humiliatin­g for us.”

The self-proclaimed Special One insisted the conversati­on should be private, despite choosing to conduct it in front of 41,000 people and the Stamford Bridge press box.

“I speak to Conte, I don’t speak to you (the media),” Mourinho said.

“It was me and Antonio and stays with meand him. Unless he wants to share.” Conte declined to do so. “I’ve been a player, too, and I know how to behave,” said Conte. “I always show great respect for everyone, including Manchester United. There was no incident, it was just a normal thing to do. I wasn’t mocking anyone, I wouldn’t do that.” The Chelsea head coach added in his post- match press conference: “Today it was right to call our supporters in a moment (when) I was listening (to) only the supporters of Manchester United, at 4-0.

“The players, after a 4-0 win, deserved a great clap. It’s very normal.

“If we want to cut the emotion we can go home and change our job.”

The Chelsea supporters once derided by Mourinho, who had described playing at Stamford Bridge like playing in an empty stadium, responded.

Conte hopes Chelsea take confidence from a third successive win and third straight clean sheet following defeats of Hull and Leicester.

“They deserve this type of performanc­e, this type of win,” he added.

“When you work very hard, it’s important to win. When you win you trust in your work.”

Mourinho’s afternoon began with a embrace from Chelsea captain John Terry, again a substitute, while his presence in the dugout was secondary for the home supporters paying tribute to Matthew Harding, 20 years after his death in a helicopter crash.

Pedro’s goal after 30 seconds was followed by a Gary Cahill goal, a fine Eden Hazard strike and a superb first Chelsea goal for N’Golo Kante.

By then Chelsea supporters were singing Mourinho’s name as they once did, although this time it was in a mocking way.

Asked about the reception, Mourinho said: “I was in the game and I didn’ t feel it. For sure it was not negative, but no reason to be.

“What they have against me? What I have against them?

“Nothing.”

Mourinho says he was pleased with United’s performanc­e, except for the defensive lapses.

“If we could delete the defensive mistakes, the globality (of the performanc­e) was good,” he said.

David Luiz, sold by Mourinho only to return two years later under Conte, might have seen red for a challenge on Marouane Fellaini, but the United manager refused to comment on it.

“After a defeat 4-0 if I’m going to speak about a referee, you (the media) are going to jump,” Mourinho said. “If I am going to be critical of a referee people will say, ‘What are you doing? If you think playing against 10 men for one hour, more or less, would be significan­t and could be an important change in the game, then you have to say it, you have to write it, but not me.”

Conte played down the significan­ce of the win and is already looking ahead to Wedn es day’ sEFLC up tie at West Ham.

He said: “I have already told my players that United is the past now.”

“You don’t celebrate like that at 4-0. You can do it at 1-0”

 ??  ?? TAKING FLIGHT: The Chelsea players celebrate after N’Golo Kante’s fourth goal
TAKING FLIGHT: The Chelsea players celebrate after N’Golo Kante’s fourth goal
 ??  ?? A word in your ear: Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte get together at the end of the match
A word in your ear: Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte get together at the end of the match
 ??  ??

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