Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho launches attack on Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez

“We tidy up his messes“, she joked, speaking to La Region.

Mourinho was manager at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, and left to return to Chelsea by mutual agreement after his “worst year” as a football tactician.

Naturally, the Chelsea boss’s reading of the situation is very different, and the manager has responded firmly to her words, slamming Benitez and making a thinly-veiled jab at the Real coach’s waistline.

“The lady is a bit confused”, said Mourinho.

Mourinho and Benitez have been at loggerheads for a decade, with their rivalry intensifying after Liverpool knocked out Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final in 2005 with Luis Garcia’s “ghost goal”.

The barb about Benitez “destroying” Inter Milan in six months will be particularly hurtful to the Spanish coach, as he replaced a beloved Mourinho at the San Siro and was fired within six months for plunging the reigning European Champions down the Serie A standings.

At both Chelsea and Real Madrid-as noted by Mourinho-Benitez was merely an indirect replacement.

Never one to take any insult lightly, Mourinho hit back like only he can, taking a jibe at Benitez’s weight and accusing the now Real Madrid boss for destroying his Treble-winning Inter Milan side after replacing him in 2010.

“For her also, to think about me, and to speak about me, she needs to occupy her time”.

Benitez also hinted that Real Madrid could have another stab at trying to land Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, saying he will add to the squad if necessary. “I don’t want my players to feel the Europa League is our competition”. I am focused only on preparing for this last game of the tour against Milan, ‘ he added. “Out of respect, we’ll do that when we get back to Madrid“. “In a one-off game maybe they will surprise me and they can do it. In the Premiership the distance between the teams is 45 points over two seasons”.