Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has said that he would salute his former pupil Iker Casillas at the Champions League clash tonight between FC Porto and Chelsea.
The Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho had a fallout with the legendary Spanish international and Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas during his tenure with the La Liga giants.
Due to a thumb injury Iker Casillas was sidelined for a prolonged period. During that time Jose Mourinho used to field Diego Lopez, who did an exceptional job under the bar.
Mourinho was so impressed with Lopez’s performance that even after Casillas returned to normalcy, Lopez was prefered over the legend. This triggered a bad relationship between the duo.
Today at UEFA Champions League Chelsea visit FC Porto. Iker Casillas left Real Madrid this season to join the Portuguese giants FC Porto.
Ahead of the match Mourinho was asked about his face-off with Casillas to which the manager responded: “I know what you’re asking,” the Portuguese coach said when a Spanish reporter began asking a question regarding the veteran shot-stopper, who is set to play for a record 152nd time in the Champions League.
“I’ll salute Casillas tomorrow. There’s no point wasting time discussing it.”
Jose Mourinho also praised the FC Porto side who are in a tantalizing form. He added: “The fact Porto are top of the Portuguese league is totally normal because of the quality of their squad,” he continued. “Away games in the Champions League are always difficult.
“Porto are a big side and want to win, but they also know we are not a weak team.”
Mourinho added that everybody in his squad is fit and ready to play against Porto aside from injured goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Chelsea defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 4-0 in their opening group stage game of the campaign and followed that up with a 2-0 win at Arsenal, but their early-season struggles continued on Saturday when they 2-2 with Newcastle United.