Jose Mourinho Takes Dig At Antonio Conte’s Tactics Ahead Of FA Cup Clash
Mar 12, 2017 at 4:57 PM
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has aimed a dig at Chelsea board by suggesting that he was surprised by the way the club have accepted Antonio Conte’s tactics this season.
The Portuguese tactician has changed Chelsea into a dominating force during his two spells and has helped them to a Premier League title in the 2014-15 season before being sacked just seven months after winning the title with the Blues.
Most of the club officials have accused Mourinho of playing negative football as they used to sit deep to defend as a unit before breaking away to score on the counter-attack.
However, the 54-year old has claimed that the current Chelsea team are playing in a similar way despite the success and Mourinho looked quite surprised as he returns to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea in FA Cup clash.
‘I’m not surprised [by Chelsea’s success]. I’m surprised with the way they play,’ Mourinho told BBC’s Football Focus.
“I’m surprised because I thought they were demanding a different kind of football.
‘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.’
Manchester United and Chelsea have looked the two most in-form teams in England over the past six months and the clash between the two has been the major talking point in the country.
However, Jose Mourinho is expected to have a tough time with Chelsea set to go with a full team and the Red Devils will be without the experience of Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front as the Swede is currently serving his three-game ban for his elbow on Mings in Premier League last weekend.
Both the clubs are keen to win the prestigious league title despite Chelsea being the overwhelming favourites in the game. Manchester United have already won Community Shield and EFL Cup this season while Chelsea is leading the title race way ahead of every other club in the Premier League.