IT’S United v Chelsea on Sunday and that means it’s Mourinho v Conte.
It says something about the form of both Manchester United and Chelsea this season that the most interesting thing about the fixture is their ongoing spat.
Mourinho and Conte trade insults, illustration by LovattoLovatto
Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte in better timesNews Group Newspapers Ltd
It’s been a season where United’s brand of anti-football is gaining rave reviews from precisely nobody.
While Chelsea’s title defence has collapsed meekly against the likes of Bournemouth and Watford.
But it’s the war of words between the Portuguese and the Italian that everyone will have their eye on at Old Trafford on Sunday.
In the meantime, here’s our handy five-point guide to English football’s most riveting rivalry.
1. The war of words begins
Jose Mourinho didn’t like how Antonio Conte celebrated a 4-0 win over UnitedNews Group Newspapers Ltd
It’s October 2016 and new Chelsea boss Antonio Conte celebrates a thumping 4-0 win for Chelsea over United.
He runs up and down the Stamford Bridge touchline in manic fashion, diving into the crowd and generally acting like a berk.
Mourinho isn’t impressed.
As the pair shake hands at the final whistle, he pulls Conte into him.
“You don’t celebrate like that at 4-0, you can do it at 1-0, otherwise it’s humiliating for us.”
Yeah, because you’d never catch Mourinho knee-sliding down the touchline, would you?
2. Jose gets personal
Antonio Conte had a subtle dig at Mourinho for finishing 10th after winning the titleAFP or licensors
In the summer of 2017, Antonio Conte began to prepare his team for the defence of their Premier League title.
It was clear he was determined to make a better fist of it then Jose had done in his second spell at Stamford Bridge.
“Two years ago Chelsea finished 10th,” he explained.
“That cannot happen again. We know the difficulty and, for sure, we want to avoid the Mourinho season with Chelsea.”
Jose Mourinho sneered at Antonio Conte’s luscious head of hairGetty Images - Getty
Meanwhile, Mourinho was sharpening his claws and, predictably, took a pot shot at the Italian’s surprisingly luscious head of hair.
MOUR TO COME Jose Mourinho warns Antonio Conte to stop playing the ‘victim’ as feud continues“I could answer in many different ways,” he said, “but I’m not going to lose my hair to speak about Antonio Conte.”
3. Cry, cry and cry againIn October 2017, United defeated Benfica in the Champions League and Mourinho used the press conference to have another pop at Conte.
He might not have referred to him by name, but his intentions were clear.
Jose Mourinho has made it a pastime to aim subtle digs at Antonio ConteBT Sport
“I don’t cry; I think the way to do it is ignore the players who are injured and focus on the players that are available.
“If I want to moan and cry like the others, I can cry for the next five minutes. But I don’t.”
Yeah, not much. Over to you Antonio…
“I think he has to think about his team and start looking at himself, not others.
Antonio Conte always takes the bait when Jose Mourinho takes aim at himEPA
“I think that, a lot of times, Mourinho (likes to concentrate on) what is happening at Chelsea.
“A lot of times, also last season. (He has) to think about his team.”
4. Send in the clownLater that month, Mourinho bristled when his apparent lack of enthusiasm was questioned by the media.
“Because I don’t behave as a clown on the touchline, it means that I lost my passion?” he responded.
Jose Mourinho claimed that he doesn’t behave like a clown on the touchlinePA:Empics Sport
“I prefer to behave the way I am doing it, much more mature, better for my team and myself.
“I don’t think you have to behave like a crazy guy on the touchline to have that passion.”
Needless to say, Mourinho’s comments were seen as another dig at Conte, who took the bait.
“I think he has to see himself in the past – maybe he was speaking about himself in the past.
ConteAFP or licensors
“Maybe, sometimes, I think that someone forgets what’s said in the past, which is his behaviour,” suggested the Blues coach.
“Sometimes I think there is, I don’t know the name, but ‘demenza senile…’ when you forget what you do in the past.”
Oct 2016
Mourinho (reported by Italian TV)
“You don’t celebrate like that at 4-0, you can do it at 1-0, otherwise it’s humiliating for us.”
Nov 2016
Conte
“I find it incredible that someone like him (Victor Moses) has been overlooked.”
Feb 2017
Mourinho
“Chelsea are a very good defensive team”
July 2017
Mourinho
“I’m not going to lose my hair to speak about Antonio Conte”
(Conte has reportedly had three hair transplants)
Oct 2017
Conte
“Mourinho likes to concentrate on what is happening at Chelsea, also last season. He has to think about his team.”
Jan 2018
Mourinho
“I don’t behave as a clown on the touchline”
Jan 2018
Conte
“Sometimes I think there is, I don’t know the name, but demenza senile, when you forget what you do in the past.”
Jan 2018
Mourinho
“What never happened to me, and never will happen, is to be suspended for match-fixing.”
(Conte was banned but later acquitted of failing to report alleged match-fixing)
Jan 2018
Conte
“I consider him a little man.”
Jan 2018
Conte
“You are a fake, you are a fake.”
Later, Conte maintained he had meant to say amnesia, not dementia.
5. Mourinho ups the anteAfter United’s FA Cup win over Derby County, Mourinho took the pair’s feud one step further.
Jose Mourinho took his feud with Antonio Conte one step further referring to Antonio Conte’s match-fixing chargesAFP or licensors
He referred to Conte’s suspension for match-fixing in 2012, charges for which he was later acquitted.
“What never happened to me – and will never happen – is to be suspended for match-fixing,” he shrugged.
“That never happened to me and will never happen.”
The following day, Conte responded.
“I think when there are these types of comments, comments where you try to offend the person and don’t know the truth, then you are a little man,” he said.
Jose Mourinho was called a ‘little man’ by Antonio ConteGetty - Contributor
“In the past he was a little man in many circumstance, he’s a little man in the present and, for sure, he will be a little man in the future.”
For the record, Jose is, indeed, 4cm shorter than Conte.
Exclusive illustration by Lovatto
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