Battle of the Bridge: managers square up

– Antonio Conte slammed Manchester United’s cynical attempts to intimidate Chelsea in his side’s bitter FA Cup quarterfinal win, but Jose Mourinho (right) hit back by insisting he remains the Blues’ best ever manager.

While the Chelsea crowd taunted Mourinho as a “Judas”, Chelsea boss Conte was furious with United’s no-holds barred approach.

Ander Herrera was sent off for two fouls on Eden Hazard in Monday’s 1-0 victory and Marcos Rojo escaped a red card for a spiteful second half stamp on Hazard. The United defender is likely to face a ban if the Football Associ-

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ation retrospectively look at the offence. Video of the stamp erupted on social media as did images of Conte embroiled in a touchline row with United boss Mourinho that ended with the rivals being separated by the fourth official.

Asked what he made of United’s tactics, Conte said: “My players want to play football, but for 25 minutes it was impossible.

“I think only that Eden got a lot of kicks. I don’t think I’m crazy.

“It could be United’s tactic. Sometimes when you play against players with great talent you try to intimidate them.

“The referee must try to protect these type of players because they can go out with a bad injury.”

It was a chastening return to west London for former Chelsea boss Mourinho, who endured his old club’s fans calling him “Judas” and chanting “you’re not special anymore”.

Mourinho responded to the jibes by holding up three fingers to the crowd to remind them how many Premier League titles he won in his two spells with Chelsea. And, determined to have the last word, Mourinho, sacked by the Blues last season, took the opportunity to remind Conte and Chelsea’s supporters that they have a long way to go to match his achievements at the Bridge.

“They can call me what they want. I’m a professional,” he said.

“I feel responsibilities on Chelsea’s bad Premier League last season, but when I left we were in the Champions League, winning the Champions League group.

“Now they don’t play in Europe. It’s not my fault. Until the moment they have a manager that wins four Premier Leagues, I am No 2.’’

Although Conte and Mourinho didn’t shake hands at full-time, the Italian insisted he had done nothing wrong in their touchline clash. –