Antonio Conte Hits Back at Jose Mourinho Over Chelsea Jibe

“You’re not special anymore”, Chelsea’s fans sang to Mourinho, who responded by holding up three fingers to his tormentors – his tally of Premier League titles delivered in two spells at Stamford Bridge.

Jose Mourinho accused the Chelsea manager of trying to humiliate him with his attempts to rouse the Stamford Bridge crowd during the previous meeting between the two sides in the English Premier League in October.

“I love the club”. Also, with the fact that he wants to rest his key players to keep them fit for the Rostov match, the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and a number of youngsters could start for United.

“I am not asking for any credit, I am not asking for that”, is what the Special One told reporters yesterday in reference to his old club Chelsea’s great campaign in their first full season after the disaster Mourinho oversaw before getting fired a year ago.

The Spaniard was first booked for a body check on Hazard and minutes later was shown a second yellow for a cynical challenge on the Belgian.

But the Portuguese defended his performance during the final months of his reign, by suggesting he could have led Chelsea to Champions League glory last season. It’s not my fault. They are also vying for a top-four Premier League finish.

“I think they are very good defensively and I think they have fantastic players to be a counter-attack team and to kill opponents with three or four players”. The wing-backs came in, and Victor Moses remembered how to play football. It’s not football for me. I think it’s normal. This is the truth. “I have nothing to say to him at all, but I will shake his hand”. I think he was very good to manage this situation. “What happens if they are put out with a bad injury?” I said at Chelsea, I stay here as long as you want.

But we have to agree there was a match until the moment Herrera saw the red card, and then there was another match after that. “For sure, I hope in the future to try to emulate his wins here”. I’m really proud of the guys.

“Mr Oliver goes home and he can do his own analysis, because I don’t want to analyse his work”.

But despite the pressure from Chelsea, everything was going to plan according to Mourinho – until Herrera was given his marching orders. The mind games [with Mourinho] don’t bring you the win.

Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester City have been confirmed as FA Cup semi-finalists, leaving Chelsea and Manchester United to battle it out for the last remaining berth tonight.