Souness: Mourinho’s bad blood with Conte is down to Chelsea stars who conspired to get him the sack... BETRAYED

because he will know the ones who were conspiring against him last season,” said former Liverpool, Rangers and Newcastle boss Souey.

“Conte took the rap because he was the point of contact. But the bottom line is that, if Jose’s not winning, he’s against everybody. We are all the same when we are winning – we are nice guys, we are all good guys.

“But when we are losing, the world’s against you.

“I remember Jose running down the touchline at Old Trafford in front of Alex Ferguson when Porto knocked United out of the Champions League, so we’ve all over-celebrated in front of the opposition. I think that what’s going on with Mourinho and Conte tells you everything about the power of the modern-day player. “Chelsea win the league with Jose Mourinho and, four months into the following season, he’s out of the door. “Conte takes over a team that were champions 12 months before and he is now getting the best out of the players Jose left behind. “But, take it from me, if Man United were to win this game at Old Trafford, then Conte will be a lovely guy again in Jose’s eyes.” Player power isn’t new, according to Souness.

He was dubbed Champagne Charlie by his Liverpool team-mates when he was a midfielder of world-class renown.

And, at Rangers, he signed seasoned England internationals Terry Butcher and Ray Wilkins to do his bidding in the dressing room.

The difference now is that managers such as Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri can win the title one year and be gone the next, if players plot against them.

Souness said: “When you have a dressing room worth £250million and a manager who will cost nothing more