JOSE AND CONTE
Jose Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge began with hugs
and ended in humiliation.
After enjoying an emotional embrace with his former Chelsea
captain John Terry, Mourinho's Manchester United team were swamped by goals
from Pedro, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N'Golo Kante.
He was then involved in an unedifying touchline spat with
Antonio Conte, who had been urging Chelsea fans to recognise his team's
dominant performance.
Italian TV reported Mourinho angrily said to his rival at
the final whistle: 'You don't celebrate like that at 4-0, you can do it at 1-0,
otherwise it's humiliating for us.'
Mourinho accused Conte of disrespect in a heated touchline
rant. And the bad blood from Manchester United's 4-0 loss spilled over into the
tunnel after the final whistle as a member of Mourinho's staff snubbed a
handshake from Conte.
On his first return to Stamford Bridge since being sacked
last December, the Old Trafford boss watched his side slump to a heavy defeat
in front of the fans who used to adore him.
Mourinho could not keep a lid on his disappointment just
moments after the end, approaching opposite number Conte and having what looked
like an angry word in the Italian's ear.
It is understood Mourinho spoke to Conte in Italian,
accusing him of humiliating United by trying to whip up the home support
moments after N'golo Kante scored Chelsea's fourth goal. Italian TV reported
that Mourinho had said: 'You do it at 1-0, not 4-0.'
Both managers insisted they wanted to keep the details of
the spat private, but refused to deny that Mourinho was angered by Conte's
touchline enthusiasm. And the Chelsea manager insisted he did not regret his
antics, despite irking his predecessor.
'I was a player. I know what the feeling is like (to score).
I only told the fans to applaud the team because the team deserved it,' said
Conte.
'There has always been respect for all, and naturally for
Manchester United. Nothing happened. I did something absolutely normal. I
didn't do anything to humiliate Mourinho.
'I think that, today, it was right to call our fans. In that
moment I was listening only to the supporters of Manchester United at 4-0. So I
called the fans to give the players a great clap after this kind of
performance.
'The players, after a 4-0 win, deserved a great clap. It's
very normal. We live with emotions. If you want to cut the emotions, we can
stay at home and I will change jobs.'
Tensions between the two teams were clear to see in the
tunnel when members of staff were embroiled in further verbal disputes.
Sources claim that a member of Mourinho's backroom team
refused to shake Conte's hand after the final whistle, causing a row.
It is understood the incident didn't involve any former
Chelsea staff now working under Mourinho at Old Trafford.
Mourinho, who fears Eric Bailly is set for a lengthy lay-off
after limping off with a knee injury, says his team were made to pay for their
errors.
'I'm not unhappy with the performances, but with the
mistakes,' said Mourinho.
'Defensive mistakes are very important. When my teams have
perfection in their defensive performances, you say that is not important. But
the reality is that it is important. We made an incredible defensive mistake in
the first minute and then the game is different.
'We put ourselves in a situation where we gave them the game
they wanted.'
Mourinho received a mixed response from the Stamford Bridge
crowd.
Chants of 'You're not special any more' echoed round the
stadium in the first half but later home supporters sang Mourinho's name.
'I didn't feel it (the reaction). I was in the game,'
Mourinho added. 'For sure it was not negative. It had no reason to be.'
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