Antonio Conte hits back at 'clown' Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho over touchline antics

Mourinho accused Conte of humiliating him last season
AFP/Getty Images
Tom Dutton5 January 2018

Antonio Conte has suggested Jose Mourinho was talking about himself when he referred to "clowns on the touchline".

The Manchester United boss aimed a thinly-veiled dig at Conte and Jurgen Klopp for their animated reactions on the side of the pitch.

"Because I don't behave as a clown on the touchline, it means that I lost my passion," the United boss said.

The 54-year-old has previously taken issue with Conte for his dramatic celebrations. After last season's 4-0 defeat to Chelsea, Mourinho said the Italian "humiliated him" and added on Thursday that he prefers to react in a "more mature" way.

Asked about Mourinho's comments on Friday, Conte used the Italian phrase "demenza senile" in relation to the Portuguese, which translates as senile dementia.

Conte said: "I think he has to see himself in the past - maybe he was speaking about himself in the past.

"Maybe, sometimes, I think that someone forgets what's said in the past, which is his behaviour.

"Sometimes I think there is, I don't know the name, but demenza senile... when you forget what you do in the past."

Conte is in his second season as Chelsea head coach, like Mourinho is at United.

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea for a second time in December 2015 and the Blues finished 10th, with Conte guiding them to the title in his first season as boss.

Conte added of the Portuguese: "There is a person that continues to look here. You understand? He went away, but he continued to look here."

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