Mourinho Responds To Conte Comments With Sly Dig At Chelsea Manager

Following Antonio Conte's comments regarding Chelsea's last Premier League title defence under Jose Mourinho's stewardship, the Manchester United boss has responded to the Italian coach with a not so subtle dig about his hairline.

Conte, speaking after Chelsea's defeat to Inter Milan, last week, told reporters of the difficulties facing the Premier League champions next season, with the emphasis heavily on not wanting to have a 'Mourinho season'.

"We know it will be difficult next season. We want to try to avoid a Mourinho season. Two years ago the team ended the league in 10th place and we want to try to avoid this."

Jose Mourinho

Mourinho was the last manager to lead a Chelsea Premier League title defence. It did not end well. Image: PA

The former Juventus boss was of course referencing the disastrous 2015/16 campaign in which Mourinho was sacked before Christmas and the defending champions finished in mid-table.

Mourinho, not known for being a shrinking violet when it comes to wars of words with rival managers, seemed to shrug off Conte's comments when asked about them in the wake of United's 3-0 victory over Norwegian outfit Valerenga, in Oslo, yesterday. But he made sure to do so with a pointed remark about the state of Conte's surgically enhanced barnet.

When someone tells you your hair looks nice and you realise it's the best £10,000 you've ever spent. Image: PA

During his post-match interview, Mourinho said, via Goal, "I could answer in many different ways but I'm not going to lose my hair to speak about Antonio Conte."

Despite Mourinho's mockery of Conte's hairplugs, the Manchester United manager will be in good spirits today following another pre-season victory and the news that Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic has finally arrived at Old Trafford from Stamford Bridge in a £40 million deal. Matic's arrival means Mourinho has now signed the defensive midfielder twice in his career, having brought him back to Chelsea from Benfica in January 2014.

We can't wait for Conte to respond with a jibe about Mourinho living in a hotel like Alan Partridge. It's the only logical progression of the pair's newfound beef.

(H/T Goal)

Topics: Jose Mourinho, Chelsea, Football, Manchester United, Antonio Conte

Joe Baiamonte

Northerner. Assistant Editor of SPORTbible. Studied Journalism and Broadcasting in a portakabin on a car park of Salford University for three years. Believes football peaked with Serie A in the '90s and strong-arms pro wrestling references into as many articles as possible. Neymar once took 50 euros off me during a game of poker.

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