I’m not rattled by Jose jibes, insists Conte
THE first engagement ended with the irony of Jose Mourinho admonishing Antonio Conte for over-exuberance on the touchline.
The second with Mourinho claiming ‘Judas is No 1’ after Chelsea fans had turned on the man they once adored and hailed Conte as his rightful successor.
Part three is cloaked with the tension of a title run-in, yet still there is barely a flicker of verbal retaliation from the Italian.
‘Many coaches try to manipulate the ideas but it is not important for me,’ said Conte from the moral high ground at the top of the Premier League.
Mourinho is thrashing around, 18 points behind with Manchester United, juggling an assault on the Europa League with a scramble for the top four and reminding anyone who will listen how teams with fresh players and no European campaign have an edge.
At Stamford Bridge, they note wryly that the reason they are not in Europe is at least partly down to the man now in charge at Old Trafford.
‘I listened to this same story when I was the coach in Juventus in my first season,’ said Conte. ‘Liverpool are the same. For sure, we had more time to work with the team and it is important in the first season to have time to transfer your ideas.
‘But to think this is the only reason we are on top of the table is a great mistake. We are doing a great job. We hope in the future to play in the Champions League. I would prefer this.’
Chelsea’s results do most of the talking. They beat United 4-0 in October and knocked them out of the FA Cup last month.
On the touchline, however, Conte will not be afraid to go nose-to-nose once again with Mourinho, as he did in the cup tie at the Bridge, when he reacted angrily to what he saw as an attempt to kick Eden Hazard out of the game.
‘Sporting conflict is the game,’ said Conte. ‘It is not a friendly game. Both teams want the three points and you both fight to win.
‘If you ask me if I like it or not, I don’t. I prefer to be focused on my team and the game so I can find the right solution if my team is in difficulty.
‘As managers and players with one team, you must give 100 per cent. Then, if you change your team, you must love this team in the same way, love the shirt, the players and the fans.
‘You have to try to put this new club in the best position and it is the same for Mourinho.
‘Mourinho is United’s manager and must fight against opponents. I have zero problems with this. We have great respect for his history with this club.’
Mourinho made a seismic impact when he arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004, winning the title for Chelsea in his first season and then defending it.
Five more wins and Conte will equal the first part of that, but the Portuguese can increase pressure on his former club by taking points from the leaders.
Memories of a goal he scored for Juventus in the first leg of a Champions League semi-final in 1999 will warm the Chelsea manager as he returns to Old Trafford, but it also comes with a reminder of United’s ability to strike when they seem down and out.
‘I remember because I didn’t score a lot,’ said Conte. ‘It was a great goal and then Ryan Giggs equalised in the last minute. In the second-leg, we were winning 2-0 after 25 minutes and lost 3-2 and Manchester United won the Champions League.’
Conte is also respectful of the Juventus connection within Mourinho’s team, having signed Paul Pogba when Juve boss in 2012 and seen Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrive in Turin eight years earlier.
‘Zlatan is in the top of his form in his career,’ said Conte. ‘He is a great player now, not only a finisher. He plays for the team. He’s one of the best in the world.
‘Paul is a player who can change a game. I know him very well and he is a great talent. The complete modern player.’
Was he worth a world-record £95million? ‘That question is better to United,’ said Conte. ‘We didn’t spend this money. I am sure in the future someone can pay more than this.’
Mourinho says he feels no ‘emotion’ over tomorrow’s match despite two explosive meetings already this season.
Asked if their third match of the season would be just as emotional, he replied: ‘You say that word emotion. For me, it is just a game. One more game. No difference for me, not at all.’
Mourinho once again pointed out that Chelsea’s title challenge under Conte has been helped by their lack of involvement in Europe. Sunday’s game will be United’s 53rd of the season compared to 39 for Chelsea.
Although he acknowledged Conte’s side are ‘strong’, he could not resist mentioning their strength is built on defending.
‘First of all, some guys are fresh, some guys are tired — that’s very important in football,’ he added as United prepare to play less than three days after their Europa League quarter-final tie against Anderlecht in Belgium.
‘But, for some reason, they are top of the league. It’s not just because they are fresh. It’s also because they have quality.
‘They have a certain style of play, they stick to it, they do it very well. Not every team defends with 11 players, but they do.’
With away games to follow against Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham, United’s best chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League still appears to be by winning the Europa League.
But midfielder Michael Carrick warned: ‘We can’t give up on the top four. A lot can happen in the run-in, so we’ll keep pushing.’
Meanwhile, United midfielder Juan Mata will miss the rest of the season due to a groin injury.